This is one of the only rags with ABCDE form rather than ABACD form. Also, it's one of only two rags (with Magnetic Rag) to have a minor B section. It's that minor section that makes this rag special. All sections in this rag just gracefully lead into the next. Even if Berlin is correct, I would still argue that it has as much or more unity than any other rag. The unity comes more from whether one makes music of it or not rather than if it's all authentically by Joplin.
Is it customary to perform an octave rather than a single note for the drop part of the jumping and is it usual to jump or drop an octave for a bar of notes that has the left hand perform a series of single notes? Is this just adding more style to it?
By the way, my tempo for The Favorite is the same as this rag. I play them both at 96 bpm and planned it that way intentionally. All my tempos are planned exactly based on the character of the piece.
Very lovely interpretation of this tune! Every time I've ever heard this rag, it's either too fast or too slow. This is the PERFECT speed for this rag. I love the expression you put into this rag (as you do with all of your music). Great job, again. ~Michael~
I have to agree with your admitting it is in the TOPS of the lists, it is fantastic, and you my friends play is masterfully!!! I fed it into my piano converter to make it work with the player piano, I can not wait to see how it comes out. Might have to hire you to record some just for the player piano! GREAT job, as always, a pleasure!! Guy, Shingletown CA
I love The Favorite. Yes, it also has a minor section which I added my own 16ths to. But still, minor sections are rare and novel which makes all the difference in the world.
Thank you for this posting. I've been following your ragtime uploads for quite some time now and I especially enjoyed your rendering of "Reflection Rag." It's a shame it's not played at this tempo more frequently! Neil Blaze
I remember seeing that somewhere too but I also can't remember where. (Being middle- aged sucks sometimes). I'm reminded of a time when composer Aaron Robinson posted a video of a rag he claimed was a lost Joplin-Hayden collaboration. Not being a full fledged ragtime scholar I feel for it at first.
The consensus amongst scholars is Silver Swan is by Joplin, however it was transcribed from a piano roll in the 1970s so the notation doesn't really reflect Joplin. It's very unique though. I think it's a good rag, especially the c strain.
I agree! The minor B part of both rags contain many of the same chord progressions. Once in a while while playing Magnetic I'll slip into Reflection in the B part.
Thanks for your invite, however, I enjoy this great-final ragtime by Joplin ;-) While not so famous, this may be a kind of top class, especially from the 3rd to 4th and final section, where you play very well with your own wonderful talent... ;-)
Oh, and the favorite has a relative minor B strain but it ends back in the major like most cakewalks of the period (around 1900). So that make 5 or 4.5 Joplin rags with minor keyed B strains.
The original 1914 piano roll label has been discovered, so it's a little stronger than a consensus now. There's a site with a picture of it somewhere, but I can't remember where now, alas.
It's all relative. If a traditional march (like a Sousa march) is at about 120 beats per minute, then under 100 beats per minute like here is indeed "slow".
Wonderful performance. I've kind of shied away from this rag in the past because it lacks unity compared to other Joplin rags. According to Edward Berlin, John Stark took several unrelated strains he had by Joplin, assembled them and published this posthumously. Still there's some very beautiful things in this composition and I like your approach very much.
I'm very curious about that story and I seem to have come across it a lot of times. Where is the source of it from? What I know is that it was published posthumously from one of Joplin's manuscripts. Is anyone sure that it's a mix and match piece?
Oh, I guess you're right about New Rag. I forgot about that one. I've never looked at Silver Swan. Is it good? And is it really by Joplin or just attributed to him like it says? I'm not really big on historical research or facts. The only thing that matters to me is the making something out of the music.
So the form is a medley--like Schumann's "Carnaval." That's totally in the spirit of Joplin, who was taught music by a German classicist. And like Schumann's work on a smaller scale, "Reflection" has the unity of a kaleidoscope: a perfect exploitation of medley form.
Thanks for pointing out the form ABCDE! Magnetic rag also has 5 sections, I believe in ABCDA form, with section D the minor section. I can see similarities with the question and answer going on. Interesting that it is a posthumous compilation. After playing it again, there was more to reflect on...haha so to speak. I removed my other comment which was not correct at all, just kind of impulsive!
A little too fast for my taste but nice improv and accuracy. Would love to hear a little more variation on the dynamics between left hand octaves and chords in the second section but difficult at that tempo. Last section is great!
I think 4 of Joplin's rags have B strains with minor keys. Scott Jopin's New Rag and Silver Swan are the other two. I think that's it.They were all composed roughly at the same time. And I agree with you about the unity part however to me the composition still seems like a medley. Of course your playing doesn't suggest it.
I feel your tempo is way too fast though I feel this is Joplin's slowest Rag try playing this really slow sometime and see how it feels Joplin probably wrote Reflection after the tragic Death of Joplins second wife 2 weeks after they were Married
@@SQUAREHEADSAM1912 Theres no evidence of that at all its a very well constructed piece very few composers could write something this together and well constructed
@@SQUAREHEADSAM1912 Of course its true Reflection Rag is a very well written composition not slap hazardly put together i can tell im a classically trained composer Reflection was likely written and completed in 1904 a very slow rag written after the tragic death of Joplin's wife Stark Joplins publisher had a falling out with Joplin and held this piece and published after Joplins Death in 1917
@@sirpizza2044 magnetic rag came into existence after John stark somehow got his hands on Joplin manuscripts that date from the early 1900s to as recent as 1914 or after.
I feel that I am playing good enough but without proper direction I am stagnating and can't perfect these pieces, such as with proper position, hand, wrist, etc. Anyone else like that?
The original is slower, as he approached the end of his life, his music got more and more sad, this song was published after he died, it was a combination of a bunch of unfinished workings
wait a minute how did he make a song in 1917 when this one source literally said that neurosyphilis and dementia absolutely obliterated his ability to play piano and write music? Edit: *BRO NO ONE IN THE COMMENTS IS QUESTIONING IT* Another Edit: I get it now, it was published AFTER he died
It can be a rather melancholy piece if played at "cakewalk speed". Scott Joplin's long-unpublished rag from the same period of his life, The Silver Swan, is definitely of a sad mood, and I'm still unsure whether to play Reflection Rag slow, or to crank it up closer to the tempo of Magnetic Rag.
This is one of the only rags with ABCDE form rather than ABACD form. Also, it's one of only two rags (with Magnetic Rag) to have a minor B section. It's that minor section that makes this rag special. All sections in this rag just gracefully lead into the next. Even if Berlin is correct, I would still argue that it has as much or more unity than any other rag. The unity comes more from whether one makes music of it or not rather than if it's all authentically by Joplin.
Is it customary to perform an octave rather than a single note for the drop part of the jumping and is it usual to jump or drop an octave for a bar of notes that has the left hand perform a series of single notes? Is this just adding more style to it?
Once you play songs as this, and other rags, you come to appreciate these a lot more, very nicely played.
piece of heaven
By the way, my tempo for The Favorite is the same as this rag. I play them both at 96 bpm and planned it that way intentionally. All my tempos are planned exactly based on the character of the piece.
Very lovely interpretation of this tune! Every time I've ever heard this rag, it's either too fast or too slow. This is the PERFECT speed for this rag.
I love the expression you put into this rag (as you do with all of your music).
Great job, again.
~Michael~
Zo mooi om te zien hoe deze man met veel gevoel speelt, de techniek beheerst en lichamelijk zo rustig blijft. Echt een vakman!
Ik wordt er sentimenteel van
Quite possibly my favorite ragtime piece. Awesome work!
I just can't help to get a smile on my face when I see you have posted a new video of you performing. This one was no exception.
This has to be the most uplifting version of this rag I ever heard!
I love how the descending scales build up the drama towards the end!! Looks difficult, sounds fantastic!! :)
this is one my favorite videos u uploaded if its not the most favorite
I have to agree with your admitting it is in the TOPS of the lists, it is fantastic, and you my friends play is masterfully!!! I fed it into my piano converter to make it work with the player piano, I can not wait to see how it comes out. Might have to hire you to record some just for the player piano! GREAT job, as always, a pleasure!! Guy, Shingletown CA
I had learned this a few months ago and moved on, but this made me get the music out and warm it up again!
I love The Favorite. Yes, it also has a minor section which I added my own 16ths to. But still, minor sections are rare and novel which makes all the difference in the world.
My favourite in Scott Joplin rag song
A complex one! It has a lot of left hand action, for sure. In the last half, it has classical sounding fingerwork. One of my favorites
Am glad to see you're posting more videos.
I love your rag-playing!
Your rag is always so deft and true. Enjoyed this so much, and with envy.
Thank you for this posting. I've been following your ragtime uploads for quite some time now and I especially enjoyed your rendering of "Reflection Rag." It's a shame it's not played at this tempo more frequently!
Neil Blaze
Absolutely love the way you played this rag and what you wrote in the video description!
I've never heard the whole of this piece and I never knew it was a posthumous work. I love it though!
So beautiful ,a masterpiece that remains in my mind as marvelous notes
AWESOME! You just made by day! glad your playing again.
Fantastic !
I remember seeing that somewhere too but I also can't remember where. (Being middle- aged sucks sometimes). I'm reminded of a time when composer Aaron Robinson posted a video of a rag he claimed was a lost Joplin-Hayden collaboration. Not being a full fledged ragtime scholar I feel for it at first.
great performance, your playing is very inspiring
Muy bueno! Hermoso!
it is so inspiring!! Your addings made this music exciting! thank you
The consensus amongst scholars is Silver Swan is by Joplin, however it was transcribed from a piano roll in the 1970s so the notation doesn't really reflect Joplin. It's very unique though. I think it's a good rag, especially the c strain.
favorite rag
I agree! The minor B part of both rags contain many of the same chord progressions. Once in a while while playing Magnetic I'll slip into Reflection in the B part.
Great playing as always, great to see so many videos from you lately. I was starting to miss them.
Thanks for posting, I'm learning rag now...such as refreshing change from classical in my younger days. (:
Love it!!! Great work! Nice sound!
Master class!
wonderful!
There are just a few others. One that comes to mind is "The Favorite". I know there are couple others but can't think of them now.
That’s amazing!
Thanks for your invite, however, I enjoy this great-final ragtime by Joplin ;-) While not so famous, this may be a kind of top class, especially from the 3rd to 4th and final section, where you play very well with your own wonderful talent... ;-)
when I want to listen to ragtime, I watch your vids haha... awesome.
the last part is very amazing :D
Wonderful! Joplin is a favorite as is your playing :)
wonderful playing and great hair!
Well done 😀👏
Oh, and the favorite has a relative minor B strain but it ends back in the major like most cakewalks of the period (around 1900). So that make 5 or 4.5 Joplin rags with minor keyed B strains.
awesome stuff!
The original 1914 piano roll label has been discovered, so it's a little stronger than a consensus now. There's a site with a picture of it somewhere, but I can't remember where now, alas.
Love it!
oooh :O i love this tune!
Nice!!!
Almost clinical precision as always, thanks for introducing me to my next rag ;) Sounds great.
It's all relative. If a traditional march (like a Sousa march) is at about 120 beats per minute, then under 100 beats per minute like here is indeed "slow".
Wonderful performance. I've kind of shied away from this rag in the past because it lacks unity compared to other Joplin rags. According to Edward Berlin, John Stark took several unrelated strains he had by Joplin, assembled them and published this posthumously.
Still there's some very beautiful things in this composition and I like your approach very much.
I'm very curious about that story and I seem to have come across it a lot of times. Where is the source of it from? What I know is that it was published posthumously from one of Joplin's manuscripts. Is anyone sure that it's a mix and match piece?
It's interesting how similar this sounds to Magnetic Rag in terms of the choice of key signatures.
Very nice once again Cory :)
I don't always listen to ragtime, but when I do, I choose BachScholar.
With Reflection Rag I usually play it more slowly but I really do like this faster speed. I may have to reconsider my choice of tempo.
Oh, I guess you're right about New Rag. I forgot about that one. I've never looked at Silver Swan. Is it good? And is it really by Joplin or just attributed to him like it says? I'm not really big on historical research or facts. The only thing that matters to me is the making something out of the music.
Hardly sounds as a "slow march tempo" but your technique is excellent :)
So the form is a medley--like Schumann's "Carnaval." That's totally in the spirit of Joplin, who was taught music by a German classicist. And like Schumann's work on a smaller scale, "Reflection" has the unity of a kaleidoscope: a perfect exploitation of medley form.
nice playing...can you learn the stoptime rag ?? nice regards f. germany
Maybe you should also try playing the Stoptime Rag, it will be very interesting to watch.
Thanks for pointing out the form ABCDE! Magnetic rag also has 5 sections, I believe in ABCDA form, with section D the minor section. I can see similarities with the question and answer going on. Interesting that it is a posthumous compilation. After playing it again, there was more to reflect on...haha so to speak. I removed my other comment which was not correct at all, just kind of impulsive!
It's that minor key section!
I bet your neighbours love you, for making amazing sounds.
A little too fast for my taste but nice improv and accuracy. Would love to hear a little more variation on the dynamics between left hand octaves and chords in the second section but difficult at that tempo. Last section is great!
W-O-W
Its like the magnetic rag
I do t know that I've ever heard this one. There are apparently several I haven't heard.
I think 4 of Joplin's rags have B strains with minor keys. Scott Jopin's New Rag and Silver Swan are the other two. I think that's it.They were all composed roughly at the same time.
And I agree with you about the unity part however to me the composition still seems like a medley. Of course your playing doesn't suggest it.
👍👍👍👍
I feel your tempo is way too fast though I feel this is Joplin's slowest Rag try playing this really slow sometime and see how it feels Joplin probably wrote Reflection after the tragic Death of Joplins second wife 2 weeks after they were Married
It’s actually a bunch of unfinished workings of his, combined into a sad rag. Most are from the the last year or so of his life
@@SQUAREHEADSAM1912 Theres no evidence of that at all its a very well constructed piece very few composers could write something this together and well constructed
PJ GRAND maybe it’s true maybe it’s not, that’s just what everyone I ever heard has claimed
@@SQUAREHEADSAM1912 Of course its true Reflection Rag is a very well written composition not slap hazardly put together i can tell im a classically trained composer Reflection was likely written and completed in 1904 a very slow rag written after the tragic death of Joplin's wife Stark Joplins publisher had a falling out with Joplin and held this piece and published after Joplins Death in 1917
PJ GRAND idk why but I still doubt that. After all though I’m not a smart person, far far from it actually. You might be right, idk
How much did you change in this song (and in that one th-cam.com/video/ozFKzltL-_w/w-d-xo.html) from the original?
Fact: This was Scott Joplin's last piece.
I’m pretty sure it is actually magnetic rag, as Joplin didn’t finish this piece and someone else finished it for him. I think.
@@sirpizza2044 magnetic rag came into existence after John stark somehow got his hands on Joplin manuscripts that date from the early 1900s to as recent as 1914 or after.
Ragtime :D
I feel that I am playing good enough but without proper direction I am stagnating and can't perfect these pieces, such as with proper position, hand, wrist, etc. Anyone else like that?
haha!
But this piano is 84 years old.
I like to think it once adorned the parlor of a house of ill-repute.
it is very fast
The original is slower, as he approached the end of his life, his music got more and more sad, this song was published after he died, it was a combination of a bunch of unfinished workings
nice music, but you played it too fast :)
I'am totally joked, of course !!! simply great
wait a minute how did he make a song in 1917 when this one source literally said that neurosyphilis and dementia absolutely obliterated his ability to play piano and write music?
Edit: *BRO NO ONE IN THE COMMENTS IS QUESTIONING IT*
Another Edit: I get it now, it was published AFTER he died
Raggasm
Dear Cory Hall, this is VERY FAST TEMPO FOR JOPLIN'S RAGTIME!!!!
Dislike
no: the tempo is right and in accord with the Pianola Rolls played from Joplin himself...
This has to be the most uplifting version of this rag I ever heard!
It can be a rather melancholy piece if played at "cakewalk speed". Scott Joplin's long-unpublished rag from the same period of his life, The Silver Swan, is definitely of a sad mood, and I'm still unsure whether to play Reflection Rag slow, or to crank it up closer to the tempo of Magnetic Rag.