Surely the best finger-style player in the world. Maybe Doyle Dykes and Tommy Emanuel 2nd and 3rd, but Richard always has so much in hand, no matter what he plays. A genius.
Most are probably not old enough to remember when The Sting came out, but that was the movie that rekindled the fire for ragtime. Had Richard been able to play this stuff in the early 70's when the movie came out, he'd have headlined every single talk show in the country.
Yup, right after my wife and I saw the movie, we bought the film score album and another instrumental called "The Red Backed Book". Joplin's music really caught on.
""The Red Back Book" (wasn't sure about the name) was an LP by a brass ensemble, I think from Boston. It was also a great showpiece of Joplin's works. Edit: New England Conservatory Ragtime Ensemble; considered chamber music and won awards back in the day.
Great Video!!! As I am a HUGE Scott Joplin fan, Richard Smith plays this one as it should be! Not wickedly fast and not morbidly slow. He captures the spirit of Ragtime perfectly!
Adding my "AWESOME" to the mix. Richard makes me want to pick up my guitar again! I've always loved Joplin, but I had never heard his music performed on a guitar, and this fellow does it justice!
Just before this video, I heard Joseph Lamb playing one of his rags in 1959. Best of all, Richard is NOT RUSHING this piece, allowing for musical expression. Hooray!
Holy crap that guy crushed it. That's hard as hell on piano... a guitar arrangement of that would be challenging for sure (which to me it sure looked tricky in a few spots for him).
Joplin is very difficult on piano, but on guitar it rises to a whole new level of difficulty. With his fretting hand, the fingerstyle guitar player must tackle the piano parts (fingerings) from both hands; simultaneously he must with his playing hand, get all of those notes sounded and articulated properly, at the appropriate volume and timbre. All while maintaining the proper rhythm and tempo for the piece being played. It is a massive understatement to say that this is a very tall order indeed. Richard Smith makes realizing this number on guitar look like a walk in the park, but there are very few people alive anywhere who can do what he is doing here. It is no exaggeration whatsoever to call it genius.
In case you haven’t seen it, watch his rendition of The Entertainer. I’d sell my arms to the devil to be able to play like that. No hang on: that wouldn’t work....
what?? ur doin this on da guitar?? i thought playin ragtime on guitar would never be possible..but u did it man...great job...luv this just as much as the piano version...maybe even better..gut job
It's a very difficult piece on piano, but an order of magnitude more-difficult to realize well on the guitar. Richard Smith makes it sound effortless, but that's only because the man is one of the finest finger-style guitarists alive. A lot of guys have tried to bring Joplin's works alive on nylon-stringed guitar, but none have attained the kind of musicality and success Smith has. He's making Joplin sound as it was composed especially for the guitar. Truly a genius of the instrument...
The fact that he taught himself by listening to others , and figuring it out by ear, is phenominal! Such dedication and hard work.
Surely the best finger-style player in the world. Maybe Doyle Dykes and Tommy Emanuel 2nd and 3rd, but Richard always has so much in hand, no matter what he plays. A genius.
If this man isn't the finest finger-style guitarist on the planet, I'd like to know who is! Simply breath-taking virtuosity and musicality...
Love the way this man plays, especially Scott Joplin
Most are probably not old enough to remember when The Sting came out, but that was the movie that rekindled the fire for ragtime. Had Richard been able to play this stuff in the early 70's when the movie came out, he'd have headlined every single talk show in the country.
Yup, right after my wife and I saw the movie, we bought the film score album and another instrumental called "The Red Backed Book". Joplin's music really caught on.
Regarding the album, me too! What's the Red Backed Book? I have the thick sheet music piano book of all Joplin's rags.
""The Red Back Book" (wasn't sure about the name) was an LP by a brass ensemble, I think from Boston. It was also a great showpiece of Joplin's works. Edit: New England Conservatory Ragtime Ensemble; considered chamber music and won awards back in the day.
Interesting. May have to look into that. Thanks!
Hard enough to play on the piano.
Great Video!!! As I am a HUGE Scott Joplin fan, Richard Smith plays this one as it should be! Not wickedly fast and not morbidly slow. He captures the spirit of Ragtime perfectly!
Awesome fantastic fabulous
Adding my "AWESOME" to the mix. Richard makes me want to pick up my guitar again! I've always loved Joplin, but I had never heard his music performed on a guitar, and this fellow does it justice!
Brilliant. Loved thar.
Incredible stuff 😮
Just before this video, I heard Joseph Lamb playing one of his rags in 1959. Best of all, Richard is NOT RUSHING this piece, allowing for musical expression. Hooray!
You did it again, just a brilliant performance.
Just astonishing!
Beautiful. His live shows are really this good if you ever get a chance to see he and his wife...
Doesn't miss a note! Great!
Richard Smith's Joplin performances on classical guitar are the best, in my opinion.
Totally agree. I saw one clip of him playing Maple Leaf Rag that actually left Tommy Emmanuel awestruck, and that takes some doing.
Holy crap that guy crushed it. That's hard as hell on piano... a guitar arrangement of that would be challenging for sure (which to me it sure looked tricky in a few spots for him).
How hard?
yes the 3rd section is especially difficult with its running baseline Cascades is one of Joplins faster Rags
Joplin is very difficult on piano, but on guitar it rises to a whole new level of difficulty. With his fretting hand, the fingerstyle guitar player must tackle the piano parts (fingerings) from both hands; simultaneously he must with his playing hand, get all of those notes sounded and articulated properly, at the appropriate volume and timbre. All while maintaining the proper rhythm and tempo for the piece being played. It is a massive understatement to say that this is a very tall order indeed. Richard Smith makes realizing this number on guitar look like a walk in the park, but there are very few people alive anywhere who can do what he is doing here. It is no exaggeration whatsoever to call it genius.
Can’t imagine how many hours he’s got just practicing
Love this tune, thanks Dean.
Damn.. 15 years. Still alive? ^^
Genius
Brilliant
hah soo cool. awesome playin dude. I wish more new artists would actually spend alot of time making their music intricate and amazin like this.
Fine playing
In case you haven’t seen it, watch his rendition of The Entertainer. I’d sell my arms to the devil to be able to play like that. No hang on: that wouldn’t work....
what?? ur doin this on da guitar?? i thought playin ragtime on guitar would never be possible..but u did it man...great job...luv this just as much as the piano version...maybe even better..gut job
I play this one on a piano, but it seems to be very hard on a guitar. Damn awesome man !!
It's a very difficult piece on piano, but an order of magnitude more-difficult to realize well on the guitar. Richard Smith makes it sound effortless, but that's only because the man is one of the finest finger-style guitarists alive. A lot of guys have tried to bring Joplin's works alive on nylon-stringed guitar, but none have attained the kind of musicality and success Smith has. He's making Joplin sound as it was composed especially for the guitar. Truly a genius of the instrument...
Right up there with Tommy Emanuel
Wonderful!
Richard is an extremely good player....try getting a hold of his 'Richard Smith Trio' CD's his electric playing is also great!
Wow brother you phreekin' got that one !
I luv dis song! Scott Joplin rox! I've heard on piano but on the guitar it sounds cooler
Check out Rev. Gary Davis, Blind Blake, and Dave Van Ronk
Roger Connor You know your stuff-love those guys!
hey - you're gr8 i luv u
this is brill.. can anyone please tell where i could get an album of this type? ragtime instrumental guitar?
Check out Dave Laibman and John James.
when he plays it, it sounds "cooler" lol
I prefer the piano version