Five Scenes from Treemonisha for string quartet (parts/score) by Scott Joplin
Arranged by Graham Bastable. Published by International
Scott Joplin (c.1868-1917) was the most famous and renowned composer of ragtime in history. His stellar debut at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair kickstarted the ragtime craze in America. He was classically trained and sought in his numerous compositions to elevate the highly rhythmic and colorful form with counterpoint, classical structures, and artful expression. Historian Bill Ryerson wrote, ''Joplin did for the rag what Chopin did for the mazurka.''
Later in life, Joplin wrote his opera ''Treemonisha'' (1911), combining archetypes of Wagnerian mythology and African-American folk culture. It contains elements of rural black music and spirituals, though it is a classical and not a ragtime work. Its first partial performance in 1915 was a failure, and Joplin died penniless soon after. During the Joplin revival of the 1970s, the piano/vocal score to the work was uncovered and the work received its first world premiere with a new orchestration, to wide acclaim. Five scenes from his innovative late masterpiece are presented here for string quartet in an arrangement by Graham Bastable. Includes score and parts. Intermediate-advanced level, Grade 4.
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