List of compositions by Scott Joplin

Joplin in 1912

Thos is a complete list of musical compositions by Scott Joplin (November 24, 1868 – April 1, 1917), an American composer and pianist dubbed "The King of Ragtime."

Born in Arkansas just outside Texarkana, Joplin was a street performer before settling in Sedalia, Missouri; St. Louis, Missouri; and finally New York City, where he died in 1917. He wrote more than 40 original ragtime pieces, one ragtime ballet, and two operas. One of his first pieces, the "Maple Leaf Rag" (1899), has been recognized as the archetypal rag; its rhythmic patterns, melody lines, and harmony influenced subsequent rag composers.[1]

Most of Joplin's works were published by John Stark of Sedalia, although he did use other lesser-known companies, including his own "Scott Joplin Music Publishing Company." The "Maple Leaf Rag" brought him steady income, but his finances remained precarious throughout his career.[2] His first opera, A Guest of Honor, was lost after an unsuccessful tour in 1903. After the 1953 death of his widow, Lottie, a number of manuscripts of unpublished work were lost and no copies of them are known to exist.[3]

When Joplin was learning the piano, serious musical circles condemned ragtime because of its association with the vulgar and inane songs of Tin Pan Alley.[4] As a composer, Joplin refined ragtime, developing it from the dance music played by pianists in brothels in cities like St. Louis.[5] This new art form, the classic rag, combined Afro-American folk music's syncopation and nineteenth-century European romanticism, with its harmonic schemes and its march-like tempos, in particular the works of John Philip Sousa.[6][7][8] With this as a foundation, Joplin intended his compositions to be played exactly as he wrote them – without improvisation.[9] Joplin wrote his rags as "classical" music to raise ragtime above its "cheap bordello" origins and produced work which opera historian Elise Kirk described as "...more tuneful, contrapuntal, infectious, and harmonically colorful than any others of his era."[10]

Many inconsistencies can be found among Joplin's own titles, his subtitles, and titles printed on the covers of sheet music. For the editor of the collected works this reveals publishers' "editorial casualness" as well as a view that dance-steps in the genre could be interchangeable.[11] Many of the works cannot be dated with certainty, and the pieces were not always submitted for copyright registration. In many cases the publication date is the only suggestion of when a piece was composed.[12]

## List

[edit]

Title | Style | Year | Form | Keys | Notes/Samples | Reference

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Please Say You Will | Song | 1895 | Intro Vs1 Ch Intro Vs2 Ch Intro Vs3 Ch | Bb | Lyrics by Scott Joplin. | [13]
A Picture of Her Face | Song | 1895 | Intro Vs1 Ch Coda Vs2 Ch Coda | F | Lyrics by Scott Joplin. | [13]
Great Crush Collision March | March | 1896 | Intro AA BB CC DD E D2 E D2 | Dm/F/F/Bb... | Scott Joplin - The Great Crush Collision March (1896) | [14]
Combination March | March | 1896 | Intro AA Trans. BB Trans. CC DD | Bb/Bb/Eb/Eb | Scott Joplin - Combination March (1896) | [14]
Harmony Club Waltz | Waltz | 1896 | Intro AA BB CC DD EE FF GG A B | Bb/Bb/Gm/Bb/G/C/F/Bb/Bb | Scott Joplin - Harmony Club Waltz (1896) | [14]
Original Rags | Rag | 1899 | Intro AA BB CC Abbr.Intro A DD EE | G/G/C/G/D/G | Arranged by Charles N. Daniels, although this involvement is disputed. Scott Joplin - Original Rags (1899) | [15]
Maple Leaf Rag | Rag | 1899 | AA BB A CC DD | Ab/Ab/Ab/Db/Ab | Scott Joplin - Maple Leaf Rag (1899) | [14]
Swipesy Cakewalk | Cakewalk | 1900 | Intro AA BB A CC DD | Bb/Bb/Bb/Eb/Bb | With Arthur Marshall. Scott Joplin - Swipesy Cakewalk (1900) | [16]
Peacherine Rag | Rag | 1901 | Intro AA BB A CC DD | Eb/Bb/Eb/Ab/Ab | Scott Joplin - Peacherine Rag (1901) | [14]
Sunflower Slow Drag | Ragtime Two Step | 1901 | Intro AA BB A Trans. CC DD | Bb/Bb/Bb/Eb/Eb | Scott Joplin - Sunflower Slow Drag (1901) With Scott Hayden | [17]
Augustan Club Waltz | Waltz | 1901 | Intro AA BB CC DD Coda | Bb/Bb/Gm/Bb | Scott Joplin - Augustan Club Waltz (1901) | [14]
I Am Thinking of My Pickaninny Days | Song | 1901 | Intro Vs1 Ch Vs2 Ch | Bb | Lyrics by Henry Jackson. | [18]
The Easy Winners | Ragtime Two Step | 1901 | Intro AA BB A Trans. CC DD | Ab/Ab/Ab/Db/Db | Scott Joplin - Easy Winners (1901) | [14]
A Blizzard | Unknown | 1901 | – | – | Lost – unpublished. Mentioned in Indianapolis Freeman, November 16, 1901. | [19]
Cleopha | March and Two Step | 1902 | Intro AA BB A CC DD | F/F/F/Bb/Bb | Scott Joplin - Cleopha (1902) | [14]
A Breeze From Alabama | March and Two Step | 1902 | Intro AA BB CC Trans. DD Trans. BB | C/C/Ab/F/C | Scott Joplin - A Breeze From Alabama (1902) | [14]
Elite Syncopations | Rag | 1902 | Intro AA BB A CC DD | F/F/F/Bb/Bb | Scott Joplin - Elite Syncopations (1902) | [14]
The Entertainer | Ragtime Two Step | 1902 | Intro AA BB A CC Trans. DD | C/C/C/F/C | Scott Joplin - The Entertainer (1902) | [14]
March Majestic | March and Two Step | 1902 | Intro AA BB CC D C D C | G/G/C... | Scott Joplin - March Majestic (1902) | [14]
The Strenuous Life | Ragtime Two Step | 1902 | Intro AA BB A Trans. CC DD | C/G/C/F/F | Scott Joplin - The Strenuous Life (1902) | [14]
The Ragtime Dance | Song | 1902 | Intro A B CC Trans. DD EE [FF GG HH GG] | Bb/Gm/Bb/Eb... | Lyrics by Scott Joplin. Scott Joplin - Ragtime Dance (1906) | [20]
Something Doing | Ragtime Two Step | 1903 | Intro AA BB A CC DD | F/F/F/Bb/Bb | With Scott Hayden. Scott Joplin - Something Doing (1903) | [17]
Weeping Willow | Ragtime Two Step | 1903 | Intro AA BB A CC DD | G/G/G/C/C | Scott Joplin - Weeping Willow Rag (1903) | [14]
Little Black Baby | Song | 1903 | Intro Vs1 Ch1 Vs2 Ch2 | Bb | Lyrics by Louise Armstrong Bristol. | [18]
Palm Leaf Rag | Rag | 1903 | Intro AA BB CC Trans. AA | Bb/Bb/Eb/Bb | Scott Joplin - Palm Leaf Rag (1903) | [14]
A Guest of Honor | Ragtime Opera | 1903 | 2 acts | N/A | Lost. | [14]
Dude's Parade | Opera Excerpt | 1903 | – | – | Lost – unpublished. Excerpt from A Guest of Honor. Announced in the Indianapolis Freeman, September 12, 1903. | [21]
Patriotic Patrol | Opera Excerpt | 1903 | – | – | Lost – unpublished. Excerpt from A Guest of Honor. Announced in the Indianapolis Freeman, September 12, 1903. | [15]
Maple Leaf Rag | Song | 1904 | Intro Vs1 Ch Int1 Intro Vs2 Ch Int2 Intro Vs3 Ch | Eb | Lyrics by Sydney Brown. A simplified arrangement not produced by Joplin. | [22]
The Sycamore | Concert Rag | 1904 | Intro AA BB CC DD | G/G/C/C | Scott Joplin - The Sycamore (1904) | [14]
The Favorite | Ragtime Two Step | 1904 | Intro AA BB A CC DD | Bb/Gm/Bb/Eb/Eb | Scott Joplin - The Favorite (1904) | [14]
The Cascades | Rag | 1904 | Intro AA BB Trans. CC DD | C/C/Bb/Eb | Scott Joplin - The Cascades (1904) | [14]
The Chrysanthemum | Afro-American Intermezzo | 1904 | Intro AA BB A CC DD C | Bb/F/Bb/Eb/Cm/Eb | Scott Joplin - The Chrysanthemum (1904) | [14]
Bethena | Concert Waltz | 1905 | Intro A Trans. BB Trans. A Trans. CC Trans. DD EE Trans. A Coda | G/Bb/G/F/Bm/D/G | Scott Joplin - Bethena (1905) | [14]
Binks' Waltz | Waltz | 1905 | Intro AA BB A CC A Coda | Bb/Gm/Bb/Eb/Bb | Scott Joplin - Binks' Waltz (1905) | [14]
Sarah Dear | Song | 1905 | Intro Vs1 Ch Vs2 Ch | F | Lyrics by Henry Jackson. | [23]
The Rosebud March | March and Two Step | 1905 | Intro AA BB CC Trans. AA | G/G/C/G | Scott Joplin - The Rose Bud March (1905) | [14]
Leola | Two Step | 1905 | AA BB A CC DD | Ab/Ab/Ab/Db/Ab | Scott Joplin - Leola Two Step (1905) | [14]
You Stand Good with Me, Babe | Song | 1905 | – | – | Lost – unpublished. Announced in Indianapolis Freeman, July 22, 1905. | [24][14]
Eugenia | Rag | 1906 | Intro AA BB A C D C D C | Bb/Bb/Bb/Eb... | Scott Joplin - Eugenia (1905) | [14]
The Ragtime Dance | Stop-Time Two Step | 1906 | Intro AA BB CC [DD EE FF] | Bb/Eb... | Scott Joplin - Ragtime Dance (1906) | [14]
Antoinette | March and Two Step | 1906 | Intro AA BB C D C D C | G/G/C... | Scott Joplin - Antoinette (1906) | [14]
Good-bye Old Gal Good-bye | Song | 1906 | Intro Vs1 Ch Ch Vs2 Ch Ch | F | Music by H. Carroll Taylor, lyrics by Mac Darden, arranged by Joplin. | [25]
Snoring Sampson: A Quarrel in Ragtime | Song | 1907 | Intro Vs1 Ch Vs2 Ch | C | Music & lyrics by Harry La Mertha, arranged by Joplin. | [17]
The Nonpareil (None To Equal) | Ragtime Two Step | 1907 | Intro AA BB CC DD | Bb/Bb/Eb/Eb | Scott Joplin - The Nonpareil (1907) | [14]
When Your Hair Is Like The Snow | Song | 1907 | Intro Vs1 Ch Vs2 Ch | C | Lyrics by Owen Spendthrift. | [16]
Gladiolus Rag | Rag | 1907 | AA BB A CC DD | Ab/Ab/Ab/Db/Db | Scott Joplin - Gladiolus Rag (1907) | [14]
Searchlight Rag | Rag | 1907 | Intro AA BB A CC DD | Bb/Bb/Bb/Eb/Eb | Scott Joplin - Searchlight Rag (1907) | [14]
Lily Queen | Ragtime Two Step | 1907 | Intro AA BB A CC DD | C/C/C/F/F | By Arthur Marshall, edited by Joplin. Scott Joplin - Lily Queen (1907) | [26]
Rose Leaf Rag | Ragtime Two Step | 1907 | Intro AA BB A CC DD | C/C/C/F/F | Scott Joplin - Rose Leaf Rag (1907) | [14]
Heliotrope Bouquet | Slow Drag Two Step | 1907 | Intro A BB A CC DD | G/G/G/C/C | With Louis Chauvin. Scott Joplin - Heliotrope Bouquet (1907) | [25]
Fig Leaf Rag | High Class Rag | 1908 | Intro AA BB A CC DD | Bb/Bb/Bb/Eb/Eb | Scott Joplin - Fig Leaf Rag (1908) | [27]
Sugar Cane | Ragtime Two Step | 1908 | AA BB A CC DD | Bb/Bb/Bb/Eb/Bb | Scott Joplin - Sugar Cane Rag (1908) | [27]
Sensation | Rag | 1908 | AA BB A CC D | G/G/G/C/C | By Joseph F. Lamb, arranged by Joplin. Scott Joplin - Sensation Rag (1908) | [28]
Pine Apple Rag | Rag | 1908 | Intro AA BB A CC DD | Bb/Bb/Bb/Eb/Eb | Scott Joplin - Pine Apple Rag (1908) | [27]
School of Ragtime – 6 Exercises for Piano | Exercises | 1908 | AA; BB; CC; DD; EE; FF | C | Scott Joplin - School of Ragtime (1908) | [27]
Pleasant Moments | Ragtime Waltz | 1909 | Intro A BB A CC A Coda | G/D/G/C/G | Scott Joplin - Pleasant Moments (1909) Performed by the composer on a player piano in 1916 | [27]
Wall Street Rag | Rag | 1909 | Intro AA BB CC DD | C/C/F/F | Scott Joplin - Wall Street Rag (1909) | [27][29]
Solace | Habanera / Mexican Serenade | 1909 | Intro AA BB A CC DD | C/C/C/F/F | Scott Joplin - Solace (1909) Computer-generated audio for "Solace" | [27]
Country Club | Ragtime Two Step | 1909 | Intro AA BB A CC DD | C/C/C/F/F | Scott Joplin - Country Club (1909) | [27]
Euphonic Sounds | Syncopated Novelty | 1909 | Intro AA BB A CC A Coda | Bb/Bb/Bb/F/Bb | Scott Joplin - Euphonic Sounds (1909) | [27]
Paragon Rag | Rag | 1909 | Intro AA BB A CC DD | G/G/G/C/C | Scott Joplin - Paragon Rag (1909) | [27]
Stoptime Rag | Stop-Time Rag | 1910 | AA BB A CC DD EE D FF GG | C/Am/C... | Scott Joplin - Stop Time Rag (1910) | [27]
Pine Apple Rag | Song | 1910 | Intro Vs1A Vs1B Ch Vs2A Vs2B Ch | Eb | Lyrics by Joe Snyder. | [30]
Treemonisha | Opera | 1911 | 3 acts, 27 chapters | N/A |  | [27]
Felicity Rag | Ragtime Two Step | 1911 | Intro AA BB CC Trans. DD | C/C/C/F/C | With Scott Hayden. Likely composed before 1903. Scott Joplin - Felicity Rag (1911) | [31]
Lovin' Babe | Song | 1911 | Intro Vs1 Ch Vs2 Ch | G | Lyrics by Al. R. Turner, arranged by Joplin. | [32]
Scott Joplin's New Rag | Rag | 1912 | Intro AA BB A CC Trans. D A Coda | C/Am/C/C/Em/C | Scott Joplin - New Rag (1912) | [27]
Kismet Rag | Rag | 1913 | Intro AA BB A CC DD | C/G/C/F/C | With Scott Hayden. Likely composed before 1903. Scott Joplin - Kismet Rag (1913) | [32]
A Real Slow Drag | Opera Excerpt | 1913 | Intro A B1 B2 Trans. CC B1 B2 Coda | Bm/F/Bb/F | Revised excerpt from Treemonisha. | [27]
Prelude to Act 3 | Opera Excerpt | 1913 | A B CC A Coda | G/Bb/C/G | Revised excerpt from Treemonisha. | [27]
Silver Swan Rag | Rag | 1914 | Intro AA BB A CC Intro A | Bb/Gm/Bb/Eb/Bb | Originally published only on piano roll. Sheet music published in 1971. Scott Joplin - Silver Swan Rag (1914) | [27]
Magnetic Rag | Rag | 1914 | Intro AA BB CC Trans. DD AA Coda | Bb/Gm/Bb/Bbm/Bb | Scott Joplin - Magnetic Rag (1914) | [27]
Frolic of the Bears | Opera Excerpt | 1915 | Intro A B1 B2 C Trans. A B1 B2 C Trans. A Coda | Em | Revised excerpt from Treemonisha. | [33]
Magnetic Rag  | Song  | 1915?  | \-  | \-  | Lost – unpublished. Seen by biographers Rudi Blesh, and Harriet Janis in 1950.  | [34]
Confidence Rag  | Rag  | 1915?  | \-  | \-  | Lost – incomplete, and unpublished. Seen by biographers Rudi Blesh, and Harriet Janis in 1950.  | [34]
For the Sake of All | Song | 1915? | – | – | Lost – incomplete, and unpublished. Seen by biographers Rudi Blesh, and Harriet Janis in 1950. | [27]
Morning Glories | Song | 1915 | – | – | Lost – incomplete, and unpublished. Announced by the composer in the Indianapolis Freeman newspaper, September 4, 1915. Seen by biographers Rudi Blesh, and Harriet Janis in 1950. | [35]
Syncopated Jamboree | Vaudeville Act | 1915 | – | – | Lost – unpublished. Announced in the Indianapolis Freeman newspaper, September 18, 1915. | [36]
Pretty Pansy Rag | Rag | 1915? | – | – | Lost – unpublished. A copy was given by the composer to Martin Niederhoffer. Seen by biographers Rudi Blesh, Harriet Janis, and performed by James P. Johnson in 1950. | [37]
Recitative Rag | Rag | 1915? | – | – | Lost – unpublished. Seen by biographers Rudi Blesh, Harriet Janis, and performed by James P. Johnson in 1950. | [34]
If | Musical Comedy | 1916 | – | – | Lost – unpublished. Announced as completed in the New York Age September 7, 1916. | [38]
Symphony No. 1 | Symphony | 1916 | – | – | Lost – incomplete, and unpublished. Announced in the New York Age September 7, 1916. | [38]
Piano Concerto | Piano Concerto | 1917? | – | – | Lost – incomplete, and unpublished. | [30]
Reflection Rag (Syncopated Musings) | Rag | 1917 | Intro AA BB CC DD EE | Bb/Gm/Bb/Eb/Eb | Published posthumously by Stark. Likely composed in 1907. | [39]

Cover pages of various works

* Third edition of the "Maple Leaf Rag" sheet music, pre 1923

* Sunflower Slow Drag, 1901

* Bethena, 1905

* The Ragtime Dance, 1906

* Nonpareil, 1907

* Solace, 1909

* Treemonisha, 1911

* Magnetic Rag, 1914

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Blesh 1981, p. xxiii.
2. ^ Berlin 1994, pp. 52, 56 & 58.
3. ^ Berlin 1994, pp. 246–248.
4. ^ Curtis 1999, pp. 37–88[clarification needed]
5. ^ Whitcomb 1986, p. 24.
6. ^ Jasen & Tichenor 1978, p. 88.
7. ^ Davis 1995, pp. 67–68.
8. ^ Williams 1987.
9. ^ Scott & Rutkoff 2001, p. 37.
10. ^ Kirk 2001, p. 190.
11. ^ Vera Brodsky Lawrence, Editor's Note pix, Scott Joplin Complete Piano Works, New York Public Library, 1981.
12. ^ Index p. 325, Scott Joplin Complete Piano Works, New York Public Library, 1981.
13. ^ a b Berlin 1994, pp. 265, 268.
14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af Berlin 1994, p. 269.
15. ^ a b Berlin 1994, pp. 264, 269.
16. ^ a b Berlin 1994, pp. 268, 269.
17. ^ a b c Berlin 1994, pp. 267, 269.
18. ^ a b Berlin 1994, pp. 263, 269.
19. ^ Berlin 1994, pp. 260, 269.
20. ^ Berlin 1994, pp. 265, 269.
21. ^ Berlin 1994, pp. 261, 269.
22. ^ Berlin 1994, pp. 131, 264, 269.
23. ^ Berlin 1994, pp. 266, 269.
24. ^ Berlin 1994, p. 268.
25. ^ a b Berlin 1994, pp. 262, 269.
26. ^ Berlin 1994, pp. 169, 263, 269.
27. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Berlin 1994, p. 270.
28. ^ Berlin 1994, pp. 266, 270.
29. ^ Edwards, Bill. "Rags and Pieces by Scott Joplin (1906-1917)". RAGPIANO. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
30. ^ a b Berlin 1994, pp. 265, 270.
31. ^ Berlin 1994, pp. 262, 270.
32. ^ a b Berlin 1994, pp. 263, 270.
33. ^ Berlin 1994, pp. 235, 262, 270.
34. ^ a b c Berlin 2016, p. 322.
35. ^ Berlin 1994, pp. 235, 264, 270.
36. ^ Berlin 1994, pp. 235, 268, 270.
37. ^ Berlin 2016, p. 301.
38. ^ a b Berlin 2016, p. 303.
39. ^ Berlin 2016, p. 306.

## Bibliography

[edit]

* Berlin, Edward A. (1994). King of Ragtime: Scott Joplin and His Era. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-510108-1.
* Berlin, Edward A. (2016). King of Ragtime: Scott Joplin and His Era (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-974032-1.
* Blesh, Rudi (1981). "Scott Joplin: Black-American Classicist". In Brodsky Lawrence, Vera (ed.). Scott Joplin Complete Piano Works. New York Public Library. ISBN 0-87104-272-X.
* Curtis, Susan (1999). Lawrence O. Christensen; William E. Foley; Gary Kremer (eds.). Dictionary of Missouri Biography. University of Missouri Press. ISBN 9780826260161. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
* Davis, Francis (1995). The History of the Blues:The Roots, the Music, the People. Hyperion. ISBN 0-306-81296-7.
* Jasen, David A.; Tichenor, Trebor Jay (1978). Rags and Ragtime: A Musical History. New York, NY: Dover Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-486-25922-6.
* Kirk, Elise Kuhl (2001). American Opera. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0-252-02623-3.
* Scott, William B.; Rutkoff, Peter M. (2001). New York Modern: The Arts and the City. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-8018-6793-2.
* Whitcomb, Ian (1986). After the Ball. Hal Leonard Corp. ISBN 0-87910-063-X.
* Williams, Martin, ed. (1987). The Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz. Smithsonian Institution Press. ISBN 0-393-99342-6.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Morath, Max (2005). Kirchner, Bill (ed.). The Oxford Companion to Jazz. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-518359-2.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Compositions by Scott Joplin at Wikimedia Commons

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Scott Joplin

* Compositions

Piano rags|

* "Original Rags" (1899)
* "Maple Leaf Rag" (1899)
* "The Easy Winners" (1901)
* "Elite Syncopations" (1902)
* "The Entertainer" (1902)
* "The Ragtime Dance" (1902/1906)
* "Weeping Willow" (1903)
* "Bethena" (1905)
* "Searchlight Rag" (1907)
* "Wall Street Rag" (1909)
* "Silver Swan Rag" (1914/1971)
* "Magnetic Rag" (1914)

Operas|

* A Guest of Honor (1903)
* Treemonisha (1911)

Habaneras|

* "Solace" (1909)

Collaborations|

* "Swipesy Cakewalk" (1900)
* "Sunflower Slow Drag" (1901)
* "Heliotrope Bouquet" (1907)

Related|

* Scott Joplin House State Historic Site
* The Sting (1973 film)
* Scott Joplin: Piano Rags (1970)
* Scott Joplin (1977 film)
* Scott Joplin (1982 painting)
* Vera Brodsky Lawrence

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