The Entertainer
Form: Intro – AA – BB – A – CC – Intro2 – DD
Form: Intro – AA – BB – A – CC – Intro2 – DD
The piano piece "The Entertainer" is one of the most famous and recognizable compositions in American music history. It is a quintessential example of Ragtime.
Here is an overview of this classic work:
Composer: Scott Joplin (1868–1917)
Title: "The Entertainer: A Rag Time Two Step" by Scott Joplin 1902
Year Composed: 1902
The "King of Ragtime": Scott Joplin was the most important and influential composer of the Ragtime era, known for works like "Maple Leaf Rag" and "Elite Syncopations." He elevated the genre from simple saloon music to a sophisticated American art form.
"The Entertainer" is an excellent example of the Ragtime style, which was popular from the 1890s through the 1910s.
Ragged Time (Syncopation): The most defining characteristic. The melody (right hand) is highly syncopated, meaning the rhythmic accents are shifted to the weak or unexpected beats (the "ragged" time).
Steady Bass (Left Hand): The accompaniment (left hand) provides a solid, march-like, and steady beat, alternating between a low bass note and a mid-range chord. This contrast between the steady bass and the syncopated melody creates the infectious, bouncy feeling of the music.
Tempo: Joplin indicated that his rags should not be played too fast. His sheet music often carried the instruction, "Tempo di marcia" (marching tempo) or "Not fast," emphasizing that the music should maintain a dignified and controlled pace, rather than being rushed.
Form: Like many rags, it follows a structured pattern of multiple contrasting sections (strains), typically labeled as Intro–AA–BB–A–CC–Intro2–DD. The C section is often a contrasting "trio" section, usually modulating to a different, but related, key (in this case, from C Major to F Major).
While a huge hit when first published in 1902, "The Entertainer" experienced a massive international revival in the 1970s:
The Film: It was featured prominently as the main musical theme in the 1973 Academy Award-winning film, The Sting, starring Robert Redford and Paul Newman. The film's use of ragtime music, set in the 1930s (though Ragtime's popularity peaked earlier), introduced Scott Joplin's work to a new generation.
Marvin Hamlisch: Composer and pianist Marvin Hamlisch adapted and orchestrated Joplin's music for the film's score. Hamlisch's arrangement of "The Entertainer" was a major pop hit, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard pop chart in 1974.
The enduring popularity of "The Entertainer" cemented Scott Joplin's legacy as a cornerstone of American music.