Scott Joplin and His Musical Legacy :: Entertainment Biographies Papers

Scott Joplin and His Musical Legacy He just got his medicinal drug off of the air, give tongue to one neighbor. One cannot hear the word tag remainder without cerebration of the King of Ragtime, Scott Joplin. He is clearly one forerunner in the scope of American music, particularly at the turn of the twentieth century.Not plainly was he a genius in the musical frame of mind, he also displayed strong talents in other areas. He had a kinesthetic gift, as seen in the movements he created for his dramatic productions. It was often said that if quantify were different and not so segregated, he could have been a outstanding 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.BackgroundJoplins 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 run short name of his former owners son-in-law, he traveled south. There he met Florence Givens, who was freeborn. They unify by jumping over the stick, the only form of marriage useable 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. twain Jiles and Florence were musically inclined 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 pick out songs on his mothers banjo, on which he was profi cient by age seven. He had perfect pitch and could geminate 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. Area music teachers were impress and offered instruction.