A ragtime two-step by Scott Joplin (The Entertainer. December 29, 1902. John Stark & Son, St. Louis).This was the number one song on the “top ten” popular song charts during 1974 – a phenomenal occurrence seventy-two years after it was published. Section A features an advanced use of a pianistic call-and-response pattern with dynamic markings indicated by the composer.
In section B, the third and fourth measures act as a fill-in between the first two and the fifth and sixth, similar to arrangements of pieces for string orchestra. In the rare two-mandolin-and-guitar arrangement issued by Stark, the string concept is clearly realized especially in the trio. It was even dedicated to “James Brown and His Mandolin Club.” Just six months after it appeared on sheet music counters, Monroe H. Rosenfeld, a prominent Tin Pan Alley lyricist-composer, wrote about Joplin in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat of June 7, 1903:
“Probably the best and most euphonious of his latter day compositions is The Entertainer. It is a jingling work of a very original character, embracing various strains of a retentive character which set the foot in spontaneous action and leave an indelible imprint on the tympanum.”
This alluring composition has been one of the reasons for the upsurge of interest in Joplin and this came about partly because we heard it played at a slow and balanced tempo by Joshua Rifkin, and partly because it has responded so well to period orchestral treatment. It is in a completely happy vein, restful, honest, folky but also beautifully constructed and entirely melodious.
The simple variant of the typical ragtime opening augers well and leaves us on tiptoe. The first strain is leisurely and the octave chords with an added interior third, although not easy to play, probably have the intended effect of imitating mandolin chording – the piece was dedicated to James Brown and his Mandolin Club.
