i dont see why people constrict to play music how someone said it should be played, "you play it too fast" makes me want to cry, have some imagination and enjoy it, if it sounds good, it is good
Indeed, and they do play the melody recognizably the first time through each strain. On the repeats is when they go nuts, but that's standard ragtime playing.
Say "1, 2, 1, 2" or "left, right, left, right" like a drill sergeant on the beats. Sounds like the tempo used to get soldiers to march, doesn't it? The rag is marked "tempo di marcia" (march tempo). If you can march to it, it's a march tempo. So while this is a somewhat quick march tempo, it's still "march tempo" as Joplin indicated. Joplin's best friends were really hot piano players, so he undoubtedly heard and didn't mind this rag at a tempo like this.
A lot of people focus on the "it is never right to play ragtime fast" that Joplin put on later rags, or they focus on the "slow" in "slow march tempo" without thinking of the "march" part. The early cakewalk and string-band recordings of ragtime were at quite a quick tempo, thus Joplin's "fast" was relative to music of the time. Joplin's "moderato" sounds fast to today's ears not accustomed to stuff like Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay or the Orpheus Overture that were so popular in his time.
yah come to think of it i play most of his rags at a moderate pace rather than a slow march tempo since some of his rags doesn't sound right if you have to play it literally slowly, like his elite syncopations rag
Heh yeah, that's another thing. People often think "not fast" = "slow" or that "slow march" = "slow". The way I like to explain it is that "slow march" is like "large Chihuahua". It's still a small dog -- just large for a Chihuahua. Definitely Elite Syncopations is one of those that falls apart at a slow tempo -- particularly that last strain.
Oh yeah. The rags I compose are relatively slow (100-120 to the quarter) but that's because they can be a bit technical. For an example, try my "Yakety Rag".
100-120 is medium to fast. (Consider that most rags are written in 2/4, thus a quarter note is one beat.) I've heard John Stark's son E.J. Stark quoted as saying that 100 was considered a good "default" tempo to play a rag.
is it wrong that i looked at my fingers and started to cry?
GaoZimu 3 months ago
This is the best thing ever. Anything Tom Brier makes me happy!
brkello 3 months ago
You should dare these guys to play Circus Gallop.
GooBootheWarrior 4 months ago
Those people ROCK! ... sorry, i meant: They RAG!! :D
NJP64100 4 months ago
i cream myself every time tom plays
digicorpweb 4 months ago
Okay, now you got me. I want a 3 sheet musics to play with my mates !
zabuzato 7 months ago
Bravo, Awesome, fantastic,wonderful,great,magnificent!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh yes did i mention that I really liked it!
stihlthebest 8 months ago
youtube.com/watch?v=ciH2QIslJ7g
An intresting version of this song.....with lyrics!
hyzercreek 11 months ago
speed equals jumble , jumble kills swing , without swing it don't mean a thing..... no matter how good the fingerwork is . ... less is more ! !
fingerscarr 1 year ago
fantastic from the old 80 year old who loves your playing great great you gooooooo
bimbo4746 1 year ago
Being a complete ragtime fan.....YOU SIR POST THE BEST VIDEOS EVAR!!!! (Yay for misspelling)
NightSword56 1 year ago
Better than good!!!! It gave me head chills so I knew it was a supreme job!!!!! You all are GREAT!!!!!
cjhwth81 1 year ago
If those pianos were people they'd be limping to the police station to report 3 cases of brutal assault :D
Rhineville 1 year ago 2
love this song :) its my favorite ever! although one thing did suffer from this impromptu session... who was to play the melody!? haha :D
scottjop656 1 year ago
@scottjop656 .... suffer is the word ! ! flashy showmanship doesn't touch crisp refinement !
fingerscarr 1 year ago
1 person disliked this. 1 person is a retard with no taste in music
ThePhilpism 1 year ago
i dont see why people constrict to play music how someone said it should be played, "you play it too fast" makes me want to cry, have some imagination and enjoy it, if it sounds good, it is good
Henry1993bc 1 year ago 2
@Henry1993bc best comment i've seen on youtube in a long time.
scottjop656 1 year ago
Comment removed
bonesplitter1337 1 year ago
0:49-0:52 Hah, funny guy. lols
XerosonicXZ16 1 year ago
Should have designated one guy to stick to the straight music - irrecognizable at parts :\
Still impressive playing, though!!!
marseilletarot 2 years ago
it is recognizable... the chord progression is easy to follow, you must not know the song well
honkindonkey 2 years ago
Indeed, and they do play the melody recognizably the first time through each strain. On the repeats is when they go nuts, but that's standard ragtime playing.
Keeper1st 2 years ago
love this rendition: funny and upbeat but scott joplin wouldnt wanna to hear this cuz its playes real fast
Revanchist8525 2 years ago
Say "1, 2, 1, 2" or "left, right, left, right" like a drill sergeant on the beats. Sounds like the tempo used to get soldiers to march, doesn't it? The rag is marked "tempo di marcia" (march tempo). If you can march to it, it's a march tempo. So while this is a somewhat quick march tempo, it's still "march tempo" as Joplin indicated. Joplin's best friends were really hot piano players, so he undoubtedly heard and didn't mind this rag at a tempo like this.
Keeper1st 2 years ago
ohhh ok i never thought of it that way thanks
Revanchist8525 2 years ago
A lot of people focus on the "it is never right to play ragtime fast" that Joplin put on later rags, or they focus on the "slow" in "slow march tempo" without thinking of the "march" part. The early cakewalk and string-band recordings of ragtime were at quite a quick tempo, thus Joplin's "fast" was relative to music of the time. Joplin's "moderato" sounds fast to today's ears not accustomed to stuff like Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay or the Orpheus Overture that were so popular in his time.
Keeper1st 2 years ago
yah come to think of it i play most of his rags at a moderate pace rather than a slow march tempo since some of his rags doesn't sound right if you have to play it literally slowly, like his elite syncopations rag
Revanchist8525 2 years ago
Heh yeah, that's another thing. People often think "not fast" = "slow" or that "slow march" = "slow". The way I like to explain it is that "slow march" is like "large Chihuahua". It's still a small dog -- just large for a Chihuahua. Definitely Elite Syncopations is one of those that falls apart at a slow tempo -- particularly that last strain.
Keeper1st 2 years ago
What I really want to learn is how to improvise along the way while still keeping the original melody like these 3 great players did its so cool...
Revanchist8525 2 years ago 2
Oh yeah. The rags I compose are relatively slow (100-120 to the quarter) but that's because they can be a bit technical. For an example, try my "Yakety Rag".
Alaeriia 2 years ago
100-120 is medium to fast. (Consider that most rags are written in 2/4, thus a quarter note is one beat.) I've heard John Stark's son E.J. Stark quoted as saying that 100 was considered a good "default" tempo to play a rag.
Keeper1st 2 years ago
@Keeper1st Good point. I compose ragtime, so I should know this. (Come to think of it, Yakety isn't very technical, but oh well.)
Alaeriia 1 year ago
@Alaeriia Doesn't have to be technical to be good. I thought your rag was quite charming.
Keeper1st 1 year ago
beyond words...
Nonconstructiveness 2 years ago 3
fantastic :)
EverYellowBug 2 years ago 3
THANK YOU!!! I LOVE IT!!!
AllenMusicTV 2 years ago 9
3 letters :
WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
kinghippo423 2 years ago 4
tom briar and friends, you are gods of ragtime!
issrenn 2 years ago 4
awesome.
mangobat827 2 years ago 15
Maple Leaf Rag together with The Entertainer is imo the best ragtime songs!
simonsko1 2 years ago 4
I enjoyed it and could not help applauding at the end. It seemed to listen to the piano roll. So wonderful. They are great.
yukimatsuri 2 years ago 4
fantastic
dippydawg827 2 years ago 4
The stereo is great with headphones. I enjoyed it very much, and I think I'm going to go back and listen to the others that are in stereo now!
jawharp1992 2 years ago 4
luv tom briers style
Antichrys 2 years ago 2