"Sunflower Slow Drag" is a
ragtime
Ragtime, also spelled rag-time or rag time, is a musical style that flourished from the 1890s to 1910s. Its cardinal trait is its syncopated or "ragged" rhythm. Ragtime was popularized during the early 20th century by composers such as Scott ...
composition by
Scott Joplin
Scott Joplin ( 1868 – April 1, 1917) was an American composer and pianist. Because of the fame achieved for his ragtime compositions, he was dubbed the "King of Ragtime." During his career, he wrote over 40 original ragtime pieces, one ra ...
and
Scott Hayden
Scott Hayden (March 31, 1882 — September 16, 1915) was an American composer of ragtime music.
Life
Born in Sedalia, Missouri, he was the son of Marion and Julia Hayden. Hayden is remembered today for the four rags he composed in collabo ...
. It is about four minutes long and has been described as "full of gaiety and sunshine".
Musical structure
:Intro A A B B A Trio-Intro C C D D
While Joplin's name was given top billing, Jasen and Tichenor assert that everything except the trio was primarily Hayden's work. The trio, attributed to Joplin, is distinguished by its softer dynamics, pentatonic emphasis, and broader range.
[
]
Publication history
The copyright was registered March 18, 1901. The piece was originally published by John Stillwell Stark
John Stillwell Stark (April 11, 1841October 21, 1927) was an American publisher of ragtime music, best known for publishing and promoting the music of Scott Joplin.
Early life and education
Stark was the eleventh of 12 children born to Adin S ...
, who advertised it as "the twin sister of Maple Leaf
The maple leaf is the characteristic leaf of the maple tree. It is the most widely recognized national symbol of Canada.
History of use in Canada
By the early 1700s, the maple leaf had been adopted as an emblem by the French Canadians along the ...
". Stark also reported that the trio was written during Joplin's courtship of Belle Hayden, his first wife, who was also Scott Hayden's sister-in-law,[
]
See also
* List of compositions by Scott Joplin
The following is a complete list of musical compositions by Scott Joplin ( 1867 – April 1, 1917).
Scott Joplin was born in Arkansas in around 1867, just outside Texarkana, and was a street performer before settling in Sedalia, Missouri, St. ...
References
External links
Sheet music and midi from Mutopia
YouTube video of "Sunflower Slow Drag" being played
*
1901 compositions
Rags by Scott Joplin
Compositions for solo piano
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