Music and Vinyl: Scott Joplin

"Back around 1910, John Stark published "Fifteen Standard High Class Rags," a folio soon nicknamed "The Red Back Book" and containing colorful arrangements for 11 ragtime pieces, mostly by Scott Joplin. In 1973 Gunther Schuller and the New England Conservatory Ragtime Ensemble recorded seven of the charts plus a new reworking of "Sugar Cane"; a pair of piano solos by Myron Romanul (of "The Entertainer" and "Sun Flower Slow Drag") round out this highly enjoyable set. Hearing Joplin's music interpreted by a group consisting of trumpet, trombone, clarinet, flute/piccolo, tuba, piano, bass, drums and a string quartet helps cast new light on these vintage themes. The LP (which will hopefully be reissued on CD eventually) is highly recommended for ragtime collectors." (Allmusic)

Recorded by Angel Records and released as "The Red Back Book" in 1973, the UK release in the same year was simply titled Ragtime Classics (though the original title appeared on the UK label). The record won the 1973 Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music Performance.

Here are two of Joplin's best known pieces - The Entertainer and Maple Leaf Rag, with the piano solo of Sun Flower Slow Drag in between.