The Life and Times of Scott Joplin (Masters of Music: The World's Greatest Composers Series)

by John Bankston

Overview

As a member of the first generation of African Americans who were born just after the end of slavery, Scott Joplin faced a world of unique challenges. His musical family scraped out a living by sharecropping and cleaning houses—but Scott was exceptionally gifted, and played in churches and saloons. While for a time he wanted to compose classical music, he was drawn to ragtime, an early form of jazz that featured African folk tunes and syncopated rhythms. After his first composition, "Maple Leaf Rag," was published in 1899, Joplin was able to keep ragtime popular for the next two decades. In fact, ragtime influences can be heard in later forms of music, such as jazz, blues, and even rock n' roll. Scott Joplin, the Father of Ragtime, whose compositions cut across geography, race, and class, was truly a Master of Music.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781584152705
Publisher:	Mitchell Lane Pub Inc
Publication date:	09/01/2004
Series:	Masters of Music: The World's Greatest Composers Series
Edition description:	Library Edition
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	6.78(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.36(d)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

Table of Contents

Chapter 1
	Son of a Slave	7
	FYInfo: Uncle Tom's Cabin	11
Chapter 2
	The Struggle After the Freedom	13
	FYInfo: Reconstruction	21
Chapter 3
	The Piano Man	23
	FYInfo: Chicago's World Fair	27
Chapter 4
	Turning Over a New Leaf	29
	FYInfo: The Cakewalk	37
Chapter 5
	Ragtime Opera	39
	FYInfo: The Sting	43
	Selected Works	44
	Chronology	44
	Timeline in History	45
	Chapter Notes	46
	Further Reading	47
	Works Consulted	47
	Index	48

Editorial Reviews

Gr 5-7-These titles briefly recount the lives of two underrepresented artists. Joplin rose from playing improvised ragtime in bars to become a prominent composer. Berlioz, creator of the Symphonie fantastique, was driven by his passions and plagued by hardships. The authors deal with their subjects honestly, not shying away from the controversies that surrounded them. Bankston mentions Joplin's personal relationships but focuses on his struggle as the son of a former slave to make a living during Reconstruction. Whiting discusses Berlioz's various affairs and how they affected his career. In both books, the writing style is clear and engaging. The authors are careful to distinguish between documented and fictionalized thoughts and feelings. FYI pages discuss topics that are intended to place the men within a historical perspective. Some are relative, but others, like a discussion of baseball in Berlioz, are merely distracting. Both volumes are illustrated with average-quality, full-color reproductions of period photos and artwork. The books end with useful study aides, including a list of selected works. Solid choices for report writers.-Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

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