The Entertainer (rag) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Entertainer |
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| by Scott Joplin | |
First edition cover of "The Entertainer"
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| Genre | Ragtime |
| Form | Ragtime two step |
| Published | 1902 |
| Publisher | John Stark & Son |
| Duration | Typically 3:53 |
"The Entertainer" is a very famous piano song. It was written by an American composer named Scott Joplin in 1902. This song is a type of music called ragtime.
At first, people bought "The Entertainer" as sheet music. This meant they bought the paper with the notes on it to play themselves. Later, in the 1910s, it was sold as piano rolls. These rolls could play the song automatically on special player pianos.
The very first time "The Entertainer" was recorded was in 1928. It was played by blues and ragtime musicians called the Blue Boys. They used a mandolin and a guitar for their recording.
What is Ragtime Music?
Ragtime is a style of music that was popular from the 1890s to the 1910s. It is known for its lively, syncopated rhythms. This means the strong beats are often in unexpected places. Ragtime music is usually played on the piano.
Scott Joplin was one of the most important composers of ragtime music. He wrote many famous ragtime songs, and "The Entertainer" is one of his best.
"The Entertainer"'s Big Comeback
"The Entertainer" became super popular again in the 1970s. This was part of a "ragtime revival," where people started loving ragtime music once more.
The song was used as the main music for a movie called The Sting. This film won an Oscar in 1973. The movie was set in the 1930s. This made some people think ragtime was popular then, but its main popularity had ended much earlier.
A composer and pianist named Marvin Hamlisch made his own version of the song for The Sting. His version became a huge hit. It reached #3 on the Billboard pop chart. It also spent a week at #1 on the easy listening chart in 1974.
A Song of the Century
"The Entertainer" is considered a very important song in American music history. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) made a list called "Songs of the Century." This list included the most important songs from the 20th century. "The Entertainer" was ranked #10 on this special list.
See also
In Spanish: The Entertainer para niños
