Tutorial and tab of Maple Leaf Rag from Richard Smith’s performance live at Star City Studio (2016). Standard tuning.
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About “Maple Leaf Rag”
The “Maple Leaf Rag” is one of Scott Joplin’s most iconic and influential compositions, earning him the title “King of Ragtime.” Published in 1899, this piano piece became a blueprint for subsequent ragtime compositions and played a crucial role in popularizing the genre nationwide and internationally.
Brief History of the Song
Scott Joplin, who arrived in Sedalia, Missouri, in 1894, performed as a solo musician in African-American dance halls and clubs, including the “Maple Leaf Club,” which lent its name to the piece. Even before its publication, Joplin was confident in his composition’s success, stating that “The Maple Leaf will make me the king of ragtime composers.”
After encountering various difficulties finding a publisher, Joplin signed a contract with John Stillwell Stark on August 10, 1899, securing a royalty of one cent for each sheet music copy sold. The “Maple Leaf Rag” was published between August 10 and September 20, 1899. It became the first instrumental piece to sell over a million copies of sheet music, a phenomenal success for its time, igniting a “ragtime craze” in the United States and beyond. Its ABab structure, with its engaging rhythm and catchy melody, made it a memorable and enduring piece.
“Maple Leaf Rag” played by Scott Joplin (recorded on Pianola Roll)
Despite the success of “Maple Leaf Rag” and his other compositions, Joplin died in poverty in 1917. His work was largely rediscovered and gained significant attention only in the 1970s, partly due to the 1973 film “The Sting,” which used several of his compositions, and recordings by musicians like Joshua Rifkin.
“Maple Leaf Rag” by Joshua Rifkin
Interpretations by Various Artists (primarily piano and orchestral)
The “Maple Leaf Rag” has been interpreted by countless artists over the years, both in original recordings and various arrangements. Among the most significant interpretations are:
- Scott Joplin (piano roll, 1916): Joplin’s own piano roll recordings offer a unique insight into his performance style.
- Wilbur Sweatman (phonograph cylinder, circa 1900): One of the earliest known recordings, though no copies have survived.
- United States Marine Band (1906): This is considered the oldest known recording of the piece.
- Joshua Rifkin (album “Scott Joplin: Piano Rags”, 1970): His elegant and melancholic interpretation greatly contributed to the renewed interest in Joplin in the 1970s.
- Gunther Schuller (with The New England Conservatory Ragtime Ensemble): His interpretations, particularly those on “The Red Back Book” album (which inspired “The Sting” soundtrack), were crucial in reintroducing ragtime to a wider audience.
- Morten Gunnar Larsen: A Norwegian pianist renowned for his ragtime interpretations, including Joplin’s works.
- Dario Ronchi: A pianist who has performed “Maple Leaf Rag” on several occasions, including celebrations for the centenary of Joplin’s death.
- Keith Emerson (in his 1977 single and on Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s album “Works Volume 2”): The celebrated progressive rock keyboardist created a virtuosic version, showcasing the piece’s versatility.
- Stefano Bollani (on the 2006 album “Piano Solo” and in various live performances): The Italian pianist has offered his interpretations, rich with improvisation and personality, characteristic of his jazz style.
“Maple Leaf Rag” by Keith Emerson
“Maple Leaf Rag” by Stefano Bollani
“Maple Leaf Rag” by Tuba Skinny
Guitar Interpretations
Although “Maple Leaf Rag” was originally composed for piano, its popularity and rhythmic structure have made it an appealing piece for arrangements on other instruments, including the guitar. Among the notable guitar interpretations and arrangements are:
- Emre Sabuncuoglu (arr. and performance): He created a classical guitar arrangement, aiming to maintain the lively syncopation and playful rhythms of the original.
- Richard Smith: The renowned fingerstyle guitarist Richard Smith has delivered a remarkable interpretation of “Maple Leaf Rag,” inspiring other guitarists.
- Bob Evans: Bob Evans has arranged “Maple Leaf Rag” for solo guitar, with video lessons and tablatures available, having worked on this piece since the 1970s.
“Maple Leaf Rag” by Emre Sabuncuoglu
“Maple Leaf Rag” by Bob Evans
“Maple Leaf Rag” by Adam Fulara
About Richard Smith
Richard Smith is a world-renowned fingerstyle guitarist, born in Beckenham, Kent, England, in 1971. He started playing guitar at the age of five, demonstrating prodigious talent from an early age. At just eleven, he had the incredible opportunity to share the stage with his idol, Chet Atkins, at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London.
Richard Smith (aged 11) with Chet Atkins (1983)
Smith is celebrated for his vast repertoire, which spans from classical pieces by Bach and Chopin, to Scott Joplin rags, Sousa marches, Beatles pop, fiddle tunes, and gypsy jazz. He won the National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship in 2001 and received the Golden Thumbpick Award from the Association of Fingerstyle Guitarists.
Currently, he resides in Nashville and performs globally as a solo artist, in a duo with his wife, cellist Julie Adams, and with his brothers Rob and Sam in the Richard Smith Guitar Trio. He is also the founder of the swing band The Hot Club of Nashville.
Richard Smith guitar conversations with Martin Taylor (2020)
Key Collaborations:
Richard Smith has collaborated with numerous world-renowned artists, including:
- Chet Atkins: His mentor and idol, with whom he shared the stage from a young age.
- Julie Adams: His wife and cellist, with whom he performs in a duo.
- Rob and Sam Smith: His brothers, with whom he forms the Richard Smith Guitar Trio.
- Stuart Duncan, Pat Bergeson, Bryan Sutton, John Jorgenson: Members of his band, The Hot Club of Nashville.
- Tommy Emmanuel: They collaborated on the track “Son of a Gun” from Tommy Emmanuel’s album Accomplice Two.
- Martin Taylor
- Muriel Anderson
- Jim Nichols
- Joscho Stephan and Rory Hoffman: With whom he forms the Transatlantic Guitar Trio.
Selected Discography:
- With The Richard Smith Guitar Trio:
- 1996: The Richard Smith Guitar Trio
- 1997: Welcome to Smithville
- 1998: Strike it Rich!
- 1999: Out of Bounds
- With Julie Adams:
- 2001: Living Out a Dream
- 2009: Seems Like Old Times
- With Joscho Stephan:
- Transatlantic Guitar Trio (with Rory Hoffman)
- Solo Albums:
- 2002: Requests
- 2006: Fingerstyle Artistry
- 2007: Slim Pickin’
- 2017: One Man Roadshow
Notable Arrangements and Original Compositions:
Richard Smith is celebrated for his interpretations and arrangements of classic tunes and standards across various genres. He’s known for his ability to transform familiar melodies with rhythmic variations, alternative voicings, and innovative approaches, while still preserving the essence of the original piece.
While his discography features many interpretations of other artists’ works, he has also composed original pieces. For instance, his albums Puma Creek and First Kiss include original compositions by Richard Smith, such as their respective title tracks. Other original compositions include “Kid Stuff” from Rockin’ the Boat. His live performances and recordings often feature a blend of original compositions and inventive arrangements of jazz standards, Joplin rags, stride piano pieces, and classical music, incorporating influences from gypsy jazz, western swing, blues, bluegrass, country, and pop.
About Scott Joplin
Scott Joplin (1868-1917) was an African-American composer and pianist, widely recognized as the “King of Ragtime.” Although he lived before jazz fully emerged as a defined genre, his ragtime music had a monumental influence on the development of jazz and many of its early pioneers.
Born in Texas, Joplin showed early musical talent, learning to play the piano and developing an interest in composition. He moved to St. Louis and then to Sedalia, Missouri, where he began to publish his works and gain fame. His ragtime style was characterized by a lively, syncopated melody in the right hand, supported by a steady, marked rhythm in the left hand.
Despite the success of his compositions, Joplin faced the difficulties and discrimination typical of his era. He struggled to gain the recognition he felt he deserved for his more ambitious works, particularly his opera “Treemonisha,” which he hoped would elevate him beyond the popular ragtime genre. Unfortunately, “Treemonisha” was never staged during his lifetime. He died in poverty and relative obscurity, but his work was rediscovered and widely appreciated starting in the 1970s, leading to renewed popularity and posthumous recognition of his genius.
Scott Joplin living history
Many of Joplin’s pieces, while originally ragtime, have been adapted, reinterpreted, and improvised by jazz musicians over the decades, becoming an integral part of the repertoire or sources of inspiration:
- “Maple Leaf Rag”: Probably his most famous and influential composition, it was a cornerstone for many jazz pianists looking to incorporate syncopated elements into their style.
- “The Entertainer”: Made famous by the soundtrack of the film “The Sting,” this catchy tune became synonymous with ragtime and inspired countless interpretations.
- “Solace”: A “slow drag” or “tango,” which demonstrates Joplin’s versatility and his ability to create different atmospheres. Its melancholic melody lends itself well to jazz reinterpretations.
- “Elite Syncopations”: Another example of classic ragtime with a lively and rhythmically complex structure that has been appreciated by jazz musicians.
- “Fig Leaf Rag”: Characterized by a captivating melody and a propulsive rhythm, it has often been explored by jazz ensembles.
- “Pine Apple Rag”: A joyful and optimistic piece that lends itself well to improvisations and arrangements in Dixieland or early jazz styles.
Scott Joplin’s legacy is profound. His music, with its innovative harmonies and distinctive syncopation, laid the groundwork for much of 20th-century American popular music, and his spirit is still heard in jazz, blues, and many other musical forms.
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