Charleston Rag - Martin Spitznagel

Buy it on iTunes! http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/charleston-rag/id267446795?i=267448309&uo=4

Martin Spitznagel performs Eubie Blake's "Charleston Rag," composed in 1899. Recorded on April 12, 2007 at the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh in concert with Bryan Wright.

For more information on Martin, please visit: http://www.spitzfire.com.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• ragtime
• piano
• stride
• eubie
• blake
• martin
• spitznagel

[torsbyn]

Lots of life in this one! But I disagree with you having heard every - literally every single one - of Blake's Charleston performances. Not the one he played for my mother and myself in his living room in early 1963

[spitzfire1138]

@torsbyn Wow! Would that I could have been so lucky to hear it! He passed the year after I was born - I never got to hear him live - but he is one of my greatest inspirations :) You are blessed to have had a private performance!

[Krazydeath66]

how long have you been playing ?

[spitzfire1138]

@Krazydeath66 When this video was recorded in 2007, I'd been playing the piano for 12 years.

[Prisoner7777]

This guy is hardcore.

[spitzfire1138]

@Prisoner7777 Ha! Thanks :D

[Morahman7vnNo2]

That's Right! Back then this was "the devil's music!"

[spitzfire1138]

@RonRizzy and @SeeburgMusic: Thanks for your responses. I disagree that there is an "accurate" tempo for ragtime; for the music to survive we can't artificially limit its range and appeal based on historical conjecture. In ragtime, tempo and dynamics are subjective decisions made by the performer, and these choices inevitably delight some and dismay others. I've heard every performance of Eubie's "Charleston Rag" - literally every single one - and I decided to bring out the fire in this piece.

[bbrannddX]

Great rendition. The best I've heard is by Dick Hymen. Ragtime is seminal jazz, you can vary anything as long as it fits the whole performance.

[anthromorphe]

Incredible performance!, but it aint music no more to my ear when you play it that fast. Bang out some more before you die.

[pianoman15304]

@spitzfire1138 what are the pieces that are the best to learn for ragtime performance? (like tiger rag or handful of keys)

[torsbyn]

There is the perennial problem with recreating ancient music: should we aim at the "authentic" performance or should we try to create the same kind of excitment? Whatever way you choose, you have to believe in it, and I think you do come over very good.

[esaurito30]

super martin

[MrBIGToast]

YOU ARE MY HERO!

[SeeburgMusic]

This would have been amazing if it were half as fast.

[pianomoments]

Sir Martin, Congratulations for this year`s performance! When will we see the videos?