Ragtime a Prominent Musical Style

Ragtime a Prominent Musical Style
Ragtime is an American musical style similar to Jazz that originated in the United States, and it emerged around the 1890s in Black communities in Missouri. Ragtime was initially accompanied by the piano as the main instrument, and it employs syncopated melodic lines that are different from the common beats measured by meters, as commonly done in other musical types. It is because of this particular musical style and "ragging" that it was initially called "ragged music," hence the name's eventual evolution to "ragtime” (Stephens 110). The origins of ragtime evolved when Black businessmen regularly convened at a bar called the “Silver Dollar.” This is where one of the pioneers of ragtime, Tom Turpin, composed one of the first ragtime compositions in America. This composition was named “Harlem Rag,” and this piece served as the inspiration for all following ragtime compositions by prominent ragtime musicians (“History of Ragtime”).
Ragtime became a prominent musical style during its time, and it had its influence on musical creation, entertainment, and even academic research. Similar to Jazz, ragtime inspired many musicians to define themselves and separate their works from traditional melodic lines. They took their creativity and composed wonderful works that inspired generations of musical creations that were based on the appeal of ragtime—freedom and the thrill of something new. The trademark syncopation in ragtime conveys a melodic looseness that is typically unnoticed by the general audience. The menace came from the very same dislocated bea...