Weeping Willow (1903) - Scott Joplin (With Score / Sheet Music)

Details

Description

Composed in the midst of a transitional period in Joplin's life, Weeping Willow would become the start of what would become his more "elegant & graceful" compositions & playing style that he would mainly implement throughout the final years of his career. During the current period however, he had recently married Belle Hayden, the sister of his collaborator Scott Hayden, and based on his growing reputation, he felt that he was more able to flex his musical muscles and expand the scope of his writing.

Joplin's recent tussle with Stark over the publication of The Ragtime Dance created a level of acrimony between composer and publisher, and when Stark moved to Saint Louis, Joplin opted to remain behind in Sedalia for some time. Thus, Weeping Willow became the second of many pieces published by a firm other than Stark's since Maple Leaf Rag. The opening of this rag is very stately and highly melodic with the B section making good use of alternating patterns creating interesting melodic shifts. As for the chord progression of the C section, it had been found to be popular in black folk songs, and used prominently in the later hit, "Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do." And towards the very end of the work with the D section, it is found to emphasize yet another fine melody, accentuating the variety found between sections. Despite not becoming one of Joplin's major hits or even a popular work during it's publication, Weeping Willow did see it's own fair share of fame as it had become one of the very few pieces that Joplin cut as a piano roll himself in a 1916 session before his admission into the Manhattan Psychiatric Center.
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"Weeping Willow (Ragtime Two Step)" - Classic Piano Rag - Pattern: Intro A A B B A Trio Trio D D
Music by Scott Joplin, Published by Val A. Reis Music Company in 1903
Cover Artist: Unknown

Music description provided & written by Bill Edwards, learn more about it here:
https://web.archive.org/web/20220308214107/http://ragpiano.com/pbmusic_joplin1.shtml

Music performed by Guido Nielsen with his album "Scott Joplin: The Complete Works (Rags, Marches, Waltzes & Songs)"

℗ 2000 Basta Audio-Visuals
Producer: Piet Schreuders
Music Publisher: Basta Music
Performer: Guido Nielsen