Scott Joplin and His Musical Legacy :: Entertainment Biographies Papers

Scott Joplin and His Musical Legacy He just got his music stunned of the air, said one neighbor. One cannot hear the word ragtime without thinking of the King of Ragtime, Scott Joplin. He is clearly one forerunner in the field of American music, particularly at the turn of the twentieth century.Not only was he a genius in the musical frame of mind, he also displayed bulletproof talents in other areas. He had a kinesthetic gift, as seen in the move handsts he created for his dramatic productions. It was often said that if times were different and not so segregated, he could have been a great choreographer. He was also talented in the interpersonal field, as his music touched so many people throughout the years. Through his efforts ragtime is now a respected form of music in our history, although he did not live to see this fulfillment of his dreams. stressJoplins father, Jiles, was only a small boy when he was purchased in South Carolina and taken to Texas. He had the privilege of being one of the few black slaves to be a house worker, which decreased his chances of being sold. Jiles was freed in his late teens. Picking the last name of his former owners son-in-law, he traveled south. There he met Florence Givens, who was freeborn. They matrimonial by jumping over the stick, the only form of marriage available to blacks at that time. He was eighteen she was nineteen.The Joplins were not a close family. It is said that the men had traveling in their blood. Scott, the second of five children, was born on November 24, 1868. When he was a preschooler, they moved to the wild frontier town of Texarkana, Texas.Both Jiles and Florence were musically incline and talented. Jiles played the violin, while Florence played the banjo and sang. They encouraged musical interest in the children, and all five had talent. Scott stood out above the rest. At an early age, he could choice out songs on his mothers banjo, on which he was proficient by age seven. He had perfect pit ch and could duplicate any chord he heard. He had the ability, which he retained until the end of his life, to remember tunes and fragments he heard years before. He incorporated them with his own elements into original compositions. His talent did not go unnoticed. orbit music teachers were impressed and offered instruction.