The Entertainer (rag)

Scott Joplin wrote a famous piano song.

It is called "The Entertainer." It is a type of music called ragtime. This music makes people want to dance.

Long ago, people played it on player pianos. They also played it on guitars. Many people love this song today. It was even used in a movie. It is a very special piece of music.

Scott Joplin wrote a famous piano song in 1902. It is called "The Entertainer." It is a piece of ragtime music. Ragtime is a style of music that is fun to play. This song was made for a dance called a two-step.

In the past, people played this on sheet music. They also played it on player pianos. These are pianos that play themselves using paper rolls.

Many people love this song today. It became very popular again in the 1970s. It was used in a movie called "The Sting." Marvin Hamlisch made a new version for that film. His version reached number one on a music chart.

Some people even added words to the music. A show called "The Muppet Show" sang a version with lyrics. The lyrics were about people who perform for others. In 1970, a musician named Joshua Rifkin played Joplin's music on a record. That record sold one million copies! This helped many people learn about Joplin's great work.

"The Entertainer" is a famous piano song. It was written in 1902 by Scott Joplin. This song is a classic of the ragtime style. Ragtime is a type of music that has a lively feel. The song has a subtitle called "A Rag Time Two Step." This name refers to a dance that was popular until 1911. People love this music because it feels very original. A writer once said it makes your feet want to move.

\n\nLearning to play this song is a special task. It follows a specific pattern of musical parts. The structure goes from an intro to several different sections. It uses a pattern called Intro–AA–BB–A–CC–Intro2–DD. Most of the song is played in the key of C major. However, the C section is also called the "Trio." During the Trio, the music shifts to F major. Then, it moves back to C major for the D section. The B section even asks the player to play higher.

\n\nScott Joplin first shared this music through sheet music. A company called John Stark & Son sold it in Saint Louis, Missouri. They also sold piano rolls for player pianos in the 1910s. Joplin registered the copyright on December 29, 1902. He registered it along with two other songs. These were "A Breeze from Alabama" and "Elite Syncopations." Joplin even played the piece in Parsons, Kansas, in 1904.

\n\nThis song became a huge hit again in the 1970s. A musician named Joshua Rifkin released a piano album in 1970. It was the first million-selling record for Nonesuch Records. Later, Marvin Hamlisch used the song for a movie called "The Sting." This movie won an Oscar in 1973. Hamlisch's version reached number 3 on the Billboard pop chart. It also spent one week at number 1 on the easy listening chart.

\n\nMany people know the song through different versions. Some people added lyrics to the music. On "The Muppet Show," a singer named Milton Berle sang it. His lyrics were about performers from the Vaudeville era. In 2020, Oscar Brown Jr. wrote new lyrics as a tribute. The song is still very important in music today. It even ranked at number 10 on a "Songs of the Century" list.

"The Entertainer" is a classic piano rag composed by Scott Joplin in 1902. It is a definitive example of the ragtime genre, a musical style known for its rhythmic energy. The piece carries the subtitle "A Rag Time Two Step." This title refers to a specific form of dance that remained popular until approximately 1911. Ragtime music was a common style for many compositions written during that era. The song is celebrated for its original character and its ability to move listeners.

To understand how the music works, one must look at its specific technical structure. The composition follows a precise sequence: Intro–AA–BB–A–CC–Intro2–DD. Most of the piece is set in the key of C major. However, the music undergoes modulation, which is a change in musical key. During the C section, which musicians call the "Trio," the piece shifts to F major. After the Trio, the music returns to C major for the D section. Additionally, the B section includes a notation for the performer to play the melody an octave higher during the repeat.

The history of the song begins with its publication in Saint Louis, Missouri. The firm John Stark & Son first sold the piece as sheet music. In the 1910s, the song was also available as piano rolls for player pianos. Joplin registered the copyright for "The Entertainer" on December 29, 1902. He registered it alongside two other rags, "A Breeze from Alabama" and "Elite Syncopations." One contemporary composer, Monroe H. Rosenfeld, described the work in 1903 as highly euphonious. He noted that its original character could leave an indelible imprint on the listener.

Various artists have interpreted the song through different musical lenses over the decades. The first recording occurred in 1928 by a group called "the Blue Boys." They performed the melody using the mandolin and the guitar. This connection to stringed instruments is interesting because the song was dedicated to "James Brown and his Mandolin Club." Author Rudi Blesh suggested the melodies might recall the fast tremolos of steel-stringed plectrum instruments. Stark even released a specific arrangement meant for two mandolins and a guitar.

"The Entertainer" experienced a massive global revival during the 1970s. This resurgence began in November 1970 when Joshua Rifkin released the album "Scott Joplin: Piano Rags." The album sold 100,000 copies in its first year and became the first million-selling record for Nonesuch Records. By September 1974, the album and its follow-up were high on the Billboard Best-Selling Classical LPs chart. The two volumes had remained on the charts for 64 weeks. This era helped create what some called the "Scott Joplin revival."

A major turning point for the song's fame was its use in the 1973 film "The Sting." Composer Marvin Hamlisch created a light adaptation and orchestration of Joplin's work for the movie. This version won an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score and Adaptation in 1974. It also earned a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance in 1975. Hamlisch's version reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 18, 1974. It also spent one week at No. 1 on the easy listening chart.

Beyond instrumental music, many people know the song through various vocal versions. Several sets of lyrics have been written for the melody over time. On "The Muppet Show," the character Milton Berle sang lyrics about performers from the Vaudeville era. More recently, in 2020, Oscar Brown Jr. composed a new set of lyrics as a tribute to Joplin. The enduring legacy of the song is reflected in its high rankings. The Recording Industry Association of America placed it at No. 10 on its "Songs of the Century" list.