Joplin, Scott
Joplin, Scott (b nr. Marshall, Texas, ?1868; d NY, 1917). Black Amer. composer and ragtime pianist. Played pf. in brothels of St Louis and Chicago. Formed Scott Joplin Ragtime Opera Co. 1903 to perf. his ragtime opera A Guest of Honour. Settled in NY, 1907. Pf. rags incl. Maple Leaf Rag, The Entertainer, and Wall Street Rag. Wrote 3-act opera, Treemonisha (1908–11, orchestrated 1915). It received a single perf. without scenery in 1915 and its failure contributed largely to the composer's death. Revival of popular enthusiasm for Joplin's mus. in mid–1970s due mainly to efforts of Amer. pianist and musicologist Joshua Rifkin. Treemonisha was first staged Atlanta 1972 (orig. orch. is lost). Posthumous Pulitzer Prize 1976.
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Joplin, Scott
