Scott Joplin's complete works

[Larry Kart]

For many years I've had Dick Hyman's set on LP and always found it a fair bit too peppy and just picked up (for a song, thanks be) Richard Zimmerman's clunky complete set, now on Laser Light. Any recommendations for someone who gets it right?

My idea of getting it right? I very much admire the playing of Virginia Tichenor (daughter of ragtime pianist-composer and scholar Trebor Tichneor) and Milton Kaye:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/17/obituaries/17kaye.html?_r=0

who did a fine two-LP set for Rudi Blesh on Golden Crest back in the day, but neither Virginia Tichenor's only solo CD nor the Kaye set contain much Joplin (the Kaye is rich with Arthur Marshall pieces, though).

[miles65]

You might want to try this Guido Nielsen 4 CD set: http://www.amazon.com/Scott-Joplin-Complete-Marches-1895-1914/dp/B001UBKHZG/ref=sr_1_4?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1422171099&sr=1-4&keywords=guido+nielsen

[ejp626]

You might want to try this Guido Nielsen 4 CD set: http://www.amazon.com/Scott-Joplin-Complete-Marches-1895-1914/dp/B001UBKHZG/ref=sr_1_4?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1422171099&sr=1-4&keywords=guido+nielsen

I don't have either set, but I did see in the comments a lot of back and forth about how fast is too fast. According to the reviews, Nielsen takes things on the fast side, with roughly the same timings as Hyman. So if that is not to your taste, you probably won't like this either.

I have to say I am somewhat intrigued by this set, though I would definitely prefer checking it out from the library were that an option.

The library does have this 3 CD set by William Albright, which looks promising. I think I'll put a copy on hold.

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Rags-Marches-Waltzes-Joplin/dp/B002VPTXDW/ref=sr_1_8?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1422178434&sr=1-8&keywords=joplin+albright

Edited January 25, 2015 by ejp626

[mikeweil]

I must admit I like Joshua Rifkin's recordings a lot, he doesn't hit the keys as hard as others and plays just a trifle slower - Joplin must be played with a groove and not just as a display of great stride technique.

But my favourites are the albums done for Golden Crest, partly combo, partly Rifkin solo piano, part of which was on two EMI-Angel CDs. Gunther Schuller had a hand in these.

Edited January 25, 2015 by mikeweil

[Larry Kart]

Of the ones I've been able to sample so far on Spotify, I like Guido Neilsen but prefer John Arpin; his measured "lilt" seems just right to me. Only drawbacks to Arpin are that he doesn't bring out what seems to me a crucial figure in one of my favorites "Stop Time Rag" and that he is said to add his own embellishments to Joplin from time to time.

[Chuck Nessa]

No mention of poor old Knocky Parker.

[Larry Kart]

No mention of poor old Knocky Parker.

I like the way Parker plays Joplin in general, the "lilt" again, but it says on the cover "interpreted and played by Professor John W. (Knocky) Parker," and boy does Parker "interpret," virtually re-writiing every piece. Listen for example to his take on "Euphonic Sounds," which he calls "Euphonic Rag."

Parker also eliminates most of Joplin's repeats, thus significantly altering the form of the pieces.

[MomsMobley]

William Albright

William Albright

William Albright

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Rags-Scott-Joplin/dp/B000000FNA

http://www.amazon.com/Marches-Waltzes-Rags-Scott-Joplin/dp/B000000FRE

you-- everyone-- needs this "Treemonisha" in your life also--

no cut on Gunther Schuller who had good intentions & is musically sound but...

but here is much vaster, more subtle soundworld.

William Albright no slouch composer himself btw.

Edited January 25, 2015 by MomsMobley

[Teasing the Korean]

I'd mentioned before in another thread. Knocky was an English professor and some friends of mine had taken his class. He insisted on having a piano in the room where he taught, and when the class discussion was getting nowhere and he was frustrated, he would sit down and play a Scott Joplin rag.

[MomsMobley]

I'd mentioned before in another thread. Knocky was an English professor and some friends of mine had taken his class. He insisted on having a piano in the room where he taught, and when the class discussion was getting nowhere and he was frustrated, he would sit down and play a Scott Joplin rag.

University of South Florida?

[Teasing the Korean]

I'd mentioned before in another thread. Knocky was an English professor and some friends of mine had taken his class. He insisted on having a piano in the room where he taught, and when the class discussion was getting nowhere and he was frustrated, he would sit down and play a Scott Joplin rag.

University of South Florida?

That is where my friends took his class. Don't know if he taught elsewhere at other points in his career.

[AllenLowe]

let's not forget to mention that Knocky was one of the original western swing pianists.

[Chuck Nessa]

And he recorded with Sleepy John Estes.

[MomsMobley]

And he recorded with Sleepy John Estes.

Chuck, have you listened to these podcasts with one of your Koestr-ite predecessors (think I have that chronology right, pls correct if not) Don Kent?

http://www.eastriverstringband.com/radioshow/?p=455

http://www.eastriverstringband.com/radioshow/?p=1214

you can listen there, download directly etc. Estes talk & much much more.

Don's recent program on St. Louis is by far the best presentation I've ever heard on that city's guitar blues--

http://www.eastriverstringband.com/radioshow/?p=1449

Named my first kid after this btw--

Gladiolus!

[Larry Kart]

And he recorded with Sleepy John Estes.

Chuck, have you listened to these podcasts with one of your Koestr-ite predecessors (think I have that chronology right, pls correct if not) Don Kent?

http://www.eastriverstringband.com/radioshow/?p=455

http://www.eastriverstringband.com/radioshow/?p=1214

you can listen there, download directly etc. Estes talk & much much more.

Don's recent program on St. Louis is by far the best presentation I've ever heard on that city's guitar blues--

http://www.eastriverstringband.com/radioshow/?p=1449

Named my first kid after this btw--

Gladiolus!

Not that there's a huge difference in approach, but I prefer John Arpin's "Gladiolus" to Albright's. The latter seems a bit studied to me.