Silver Swan Rag (Scott Joplin)

A higher audio quality version of this piece (played on a concert grand) has been posted to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViEScy4phN4

So far as I know, this is Scott Jolin's only posthumously published rag. It's a relatively simple piece, but it took me a surprising number of attempts to get a version I was happy enough with. (*Yes, my piano is painfully out of tune and I apologize!)

This video marks my 200th YouTube video (well, I've actually posted over 200, but have taken some down), so to celebrate this notable occasion, I will be giving away three of my Panpipe CDs. Anyone who might like to receive a copy, please send me a message mentioning this post. The next three people who send me a meesage will get a free copy of the CD (you can hear some samples by going to my 'MySpace' page).

And in other exciting news, I am hoping to buy a rather nice grand piano sometime soon..... I've been waiting a while to get one, and now I seem to have a good opportunity.....

(A 40 year old, 9' Yamaha. It'd be over $100,000 to get one like it new..... So if'n I do get it, my videos should improve a little. ;) )

PS..... Yes..... I ended up getting it!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• silver
• swan
• rag
• scott
• joplin
• ragtime
• piano

[meats0]

The people lucky enough to have heard Scott Joplin play all attest to his singing tone, perfect sense of rhythm, and an underlying current of melancholy. I believe we have all that here. Beautiful rendition and keep up the good work!

[Kamibambiraptor]

@meats0

What a wonderful compliment! Thank you! :-)

[cappy92]

It is never right to play ragtime fast.

-Scott Joplin

[Kamibambiraptor]

@cappy92

It's amazing how many people seem to forget that!

[TheYarxia]

@Kamibambiraptor

"Notice! Don't play this piece fast. It is inever right to play ragtime fast. Author."

With the Ragtime revival of the 1940's, some younger players interpreted these instructions over-literally, slowing some inherently lively pieces to a dispirited walk. (Scott Joplin: Complete Piano Works, by Rudi Blesh pg. xxix, Paragraph 2)

I know Silver Swan Rag is a melancholy and pensive piece, but it doesn't have to be so slow. Look at Joplin's rolls. They are nowhere near that slow...

[Kamibambiraptor]

@TheYarxia

To be quite honest, I DO NOT CARE at what speed Joplin played his rags. I play them as I like; maybe if Scott Joplin were alive to listen he would like my interpretation. And maybe not. My usual response to comments like yours is: "No one is forcing you to listen; if you don't like the tempo, listen to something else." And, of course, if you want to post your OWN version, that would be even better.

[meats0]

@cappy92 During his life and after his death, young socialites would gather for "Maple Leaf Competitions", in which contestants would see who could whiz through Maple Leaf Rag the fastest. That must have had Joplin rolling over in his grave.

[chrisirwin34]

Well I put it in my favorites I thought it was really nice.