Scott Joplin: "Euphonic Sounds" —1909

I learned this was I was 11. It was my favorite Joplin piece, years ahead of its time, and so weird! Who goes from B Flat to B in a bridge? Gawjuss stuff.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• rag
• ragtime
• piano
• joplin
• euphonic
• sounds

[nickforthetitle]

very well played! its a tough piece. how long did it take you to learn it?

[marquisdd]

@nickforthetitle Thanks. I don't recall how long it took to learn. This was the second "grown-up" piece I attempted when I was 11 years old and it has never left my fingers. Wish I could say the same for the hundreds of other pieces I can't play any more. :-)

[TheBestRichy]

It takes a fair bit of skill to play this rag as well as you do, it's a non-trivial rag and you play it sweetly. OFC I read the comments about speed, Joshua Rifkind's pace is what we are used to and there is much to be lost by playing faster, but yours is excellent - I would recommend a slightly slower pace until about 1 min in your rendition, then keep it up - you would gain something by slowing down the start and lose nothing by keep up the pace afterwards. A++++

[marquisdd]

Thanks for making my day.

[BachScholar]

How do you know this is faster than Joplin would have played it? Is it the performer's goal to play everything at exactly the same speed as the composer played it? Joplin's abilities were waning at this time anyway (1909), so I doubt he could have even played his own music ideally. Nice job!

[marquisdd]

You're right, of course. One is not penned in to play music at the exact tempo of the composer. Rubato by definition is freer than that. I was speaking of the ubiquitous "Not Fast" tempo sig. that begins 99% of rags from this era, implying that one has a natural tendency to speed things up a bit (too?) much. Problem is, I LIKE rags sped up a little bit. :-)

[Doug19752533]

I prefer Euphonic Sounds slower, much like Josh Rifkin played it. I look at Euphonic Sounds as a non-rag. while yes there is syncopation, syncopation does not always equal ragtime. in fact there is only one measure of the typical oompah bass in the whole piece (which is in the second section, while the third simply employs soft 8th note chords). This is Joplin pushing ragtime to its absolute limits, and even beyond. that being said, your playing is still very good

[cyberiade]

Yes, it is faster than many (myself included) would normally like, but kudos to you for admitting it. You showed a great feeling for the piece. Many liberties taken, but that's ok. What a great move at 2:39! Thanks for posting.

[TheKnabe]

I has to be played at this pace to be so delicious. The point is that you handle it exceedingly well. It does not seem too fast.

[marquisdd]

My, my! Thanks so much. I feel dirty about this piece because I play it faster than Joplin would, but it's how I hear it in my head. As a person who lectures other people to play rag slower, here I go posting fast renditions. Naughty me.