Ragtime on YouTube

Many people are familiar the "Maple Leaf Rag“ by Scott Joplin. And yet, the style of ragtime, which was developed by Joplin a hundred years ago and which is distinguishable by daring leaps of the left hand and perky syncopations of the right, was only favored by a small group of connoisseurs during the past decades. But all of a sudden, the Internet portal YouTube is blowing up dust. Ragtime pianists from all over the world look over each others' shoulders and exchange ideas through YouTube. The new communication results in adventurous new versions of the Maple Leaf Rag, "ragged" Chopin, and colorful video clips from a world championship. Georg Hirsch gathered samples and comments, including those of two ragtime world champions.

Listen (in German)

[ Home - English ] [ Home - Deutsch ]