The Strenuous Life - Scott Joplin

[43Meyrick1]

Please don't play it any faster!

[MrRagtimefan]

Very good playing! this is my favourite version of strenuous here on youtube.

funny that you wrote you play it slower than others.....because i play it slower than you :D go on with this wonderful playing

[rdcoddington]

You do very well! I'm probably about your age and I'm teaching myself piano. I understand.

[MsYellowbucket]

At this kind of music, I always have the feeling to be in a saloon in the wild west. :)

[bruckner1]

You're playing at a great tempo here - it really brings out the wistfullness which is a part of Joplin's character ( I think). Great job!

[glyn001]

I personally think it is nice to hear Scott Joplin's music being played at this slower tempo. So many people think ragtime should be played at breakneck speed - it was never meant to be like that. I love the way you play "Solace". Very well done - thanks for posting these pieces on youtube.

[jetibest]

no need to play it faster, this tempo is very nice.

[wwwdotcomedy]

You said in the description that your rendition is slower than other versions, but on my copy of the sheet music it says "not fast" at the top, so you've probably got it about right!

[jonnydelajonny]

I like it...i have learned that in 1week ...very much work !

[SmokeyTheWarrior]

It's still VERY good on the slow side ;D

I'm 15 and almost have the final page learned. (ALMOST THERE) Great fun!

One of my favourite songs to play.

Maple Leaf rag is a MUST on my to-do list

[rayplee]

how long did it take to play that song like this? i m playing this song too. and its really complicated...

[GreenHat9]

@rayplee I learn very slowly because I have really poor sight reading ability. It might have taken me two weeks to learn 16 measures, and a month or two to learn to play the piece. Then another couple of months to learn to play it with feeling. This isn't an easy piece. Thanks for writing.

[rayplee]

@GreenHat9 seems like i still have to praktiz a long time :(

[middleC17]

@GreenHat9 Your effort paid off, it's lovely!

[sam7370]

This is excellent.

[Doug19752533]

i think you play it very well. i play it maybe just a few beats per minute faster, take the B section repeat and octave up. but yours is really nice. we have the same joplin book lol

[GreenHat9]

Thank you! I agree with you, a little faster would be good. By the way, I have listened to your Joplin performances and enjoyed them very much. I hope you post more of your lovely playing on YouTube.

[cebukid70]

Very nice job! I rate it 5-stars.  I am looking for a project after I complete Weeping Willow, and this might be it. PS-We seem to favor the same Joplin pieces. :-)

[thelizinator]

Oh, I really like the way you play this. I think Joplin would approve.

[david196564]

really nice done. could be played slower, thank you

[BachScholar]

I wouldn't rely on recordings for tempo choices. I think it could even be a little slower than this. What kind of tempo and character do you think "strenuous" in the title implies? Happy and jolly? or calm and more expressive?

[Doug19752533]

@BachScholar Joplin too the title from the speach by Teddy Roosavelt. He greatly admired Roosavelt and wanted to honor him by using his speech title for this rag. his lost opera "a guest of honor" from about the same period (copyright 1902) featured Roosavelt also. Joplin did not title his pieces based on the emotional content of the music, he was not an impressionist or expressionist. consider Chopin whos music is very emotional but he used simple forms as titles.

[mjuniorsc]

good. I play faster, . I like, anyway

[xxMFSxx]

its never right to play ragtime fast say scott

[TheColoradoan]

Man, I used to have that book, there. Lost it in a move, and I miss it immensely.

[22483511]

Hey The Coloradoan! Cheer up ! You can still get this album from AMAZON. The title is"Scott Joplin Collected Piano Works Rags Waltzes Marches"

[lagier8]

It's nce but my favorits rag is "the easy winner"

[zachpiano]

nice!

[sawyer4pres]

After years of fumbling with pop and classical, I have once again taken on Scott Joplin. Apparently we use the same music book "Collected Piano Works"

[Lekookaracha]

hi,

im working on this song on piano and i was wondering what fingering do you use for the 3rd page 5th line RH? i keep messing up the fingering and using a 5 when i reach for A and then i cant reach that next jump. thanks so much!!

[perumnx]

Great! I love it!

[wildUncleJohn]

This is probably my favorite Joplin rag and I love the way you play it. The tempo is just right for allowing me to hear all the wonderful subtleties of the piece. My other favorite is A Breeze from Alabama, have you posted that?

[GreenHat9]

Thank you for your kind words. I just looked at A Breeze from Alabama - looks good in score, I'll add it to my "to do" list.

[S3InF3LD]

I'm up to the fourth page!

[ouirv]

Paul - After finding your latest posting from last month, I was moved to listen to this yet AGAIN! I love it so much, and know that sooner or later I will find time to learn it, after being so inspired by your beautiful rendition.

[Bookrten]

this music simply brings a smile to my face. no other mental/physical/intellectual assessment of this style of music is required.

nice job, my funny little friend

[Lekookaracha]

nicely done! i am currently working on this piece and i didn't get how the rhythm in the last line went and now i get it! thanks so much!

[hueycharn]

very nice. thx for posting it. Hv a nice day. ^_^

[Doug19752533]

not a bad interpretation of a not too often played Joplin rag. i recognize the book on the piano haha, i have it too. i like to play the B section an octive up when i repeat with octaves in the bass. i like the C section too, kinda like a waltz in 2/4 time. nice job

[nicolas47200]

Hi,i play the streanous life with 4 flutes (i am french i speak english a little) thanks for the goodtime to watch the video !!

[FREEASTHESTARS]

this is so great doesn't get any better than this and you played it extremely well ;)

[GreenHat9]

Thanks!!!

[highwolf666]

gorgeous ^^

[InspectriceGadget]

Of course i know "The Entertainer", but : would not be present on youtube a Ragtime video for "Suzy, Oh Suzy" ? :) From Scott Joplin too, if i'm right! Very good piece, the strenuous Life ; alike your playing here to...Happiness, just excellent hearing! ;p

[moviecrazy12345]

Added it to my favorites. Just a normal guy playing some good old ragtime.

Great!

[GreenHat9]

Thank you, sir. -Paul

[richthegenius]

Very very nice :)

Learning this at the moment

[fun0909]

nice play..

love it =)

[GreenHat9]

Thank you! Coming from you - a piano teacher - this compliment means a lot to me.

Best regards,

Paul

[keancharles]

You (and others) are performing a great service by keeping ragtime alive. Your playing was great, klunkers and all. You got the point across nicely, sir.

[GreenHat9]

Thank you, Charles. I appreciate your taking the time to comment.

-Paul

[englishplayer40]

very nicely played sir with a lots skilful professional shading. i usually play this piece faster but it really worked well at that tempo. you made me think

[GreenHat9]

Thank you, sir!

-Paul

[ouirv]

Paul, Thanks for posting this lovely, expressive performance. It is a joy to listen to such a beautiful and delicate rendition. Love it.

[marco0193]

complimenti!!

[arkahin]

C'est parfait, le temps, la mélodie, le style, l'esprit de Scott Joplin, je suis fan. Merci Monsieur pour cette vidéo excellente qui n'est pas forcément une vertu des autres vidéos de youtube.

[GreenHat9]

Vous êtes tellement gentil, mon ami.

Merci pour votre commentaries utiles.

[donno1234567]

I think that this was a performance that showed a lot of character with an even tempo-

Well done very enjoyable!

[GreenHat9]

Thank you, kind friend.

-Paul

[doctorh2005]

Awesome! :D

i love Scott Joplin :)

Thanks for posting this up.

[GreenHat9]

Thank you, Sir. Most kind.

I just listened to your Maple Leaf Rag, v.2. Great job! Nice embellishments and touches of swing. More, please.

-Paul

[idasynco]

Hi Paul,

I've played this one too, but never nail it. It is usually the D section that is most stenuous for me, as it requires the larger hand which I wasn't born with. sigh...

Karen

[GreenHat9]

Karen, I know what you mean. My hands are not large, and part D is difficult for me. In fact, due to arthritis in my wrists, I now usually omit it. Glad I got it on tape while I could still play it, sorta.

[idasynco]

I often omit section D's, and just go back to the beginning. I do like to improvise, though my head has ideas my fingers don't quite keep up with! OH well, what's a purple chick to do? LOL

[Smebninja]

goog interpretation.

The speed is very good, in every rag, there's written "not fast" !

But you can work at the ragtime-style...

[jazzpianist2000]

wow!!! this is awesome!!! how many years have you been playing the piano? i could never play joplin like you do. it's too difficult for you. keep up the good work!!!

[medra1980]

Hi, thanks for commenting on my possum and taters video, I think you play the piano very smoothly and did a great job. Do you know any other ragtime songs?

Grts Ben

[Gangly1]

Absolutely marvellous Paul. The tempo, phrasing and overall sound quality make this the best version I have seen on YT so far.

Please keep 'em coming!!

Regards,

Paul