Download Some Free Ragtime Sheet Music
Also, links to Ragtime Audio CDs and Tapes, collections of ragtime sheet music,
and books about ragtime, which you can purchase mail-order, are provided below.As an experiment, I am going to provide some FREE downloadable, GIF format, scanned images of sheet music for some ragtime pieces. The available scores will be EXCLUSIVELY LIMITED TO PUBLIC DOMAIN COMPOSITIONS! Please do NOT ask me to include copies of any compositions published more recently than 1922.
These GIF files can be printed out on your own printer, from your own computer, once you download and unzip the graphic archive file. The quality of these scanned images produces a very good result when printed using a reasonably good graphic program and printer, with 100dpi resolution or better.
One program which works very well for printing the sheet music scans in Windows is a freeware graphics program called IrfanView.
However, it is important that you do not use settings in your graphic program which may reduce the image resolution prior to printing the score. For example, some graphic programs have a setting which reduces the image to fit it entirely within the display screen on your CRT. If this setting is enabled, it generally will reduce the quality of the image, and the printed result will be very poor. Let the image on the computer screen spill outside of the viewable area, and fit the image to a single page when printing from the program.
You can download IrfanView from the author's website at: http://www.irfanview.com/
or from any number of other shareware/software web sites.
Currently Available Pieces
Many thanks to Audrey VanDyke, who graciously provided access to her sheet music collection and allowed me to scan the cover artwork for these pieces.
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by Scott Joplin (1899) |
by James Scott (1909) |
by Joseph Lamb (1916) |
Click on cover artwork for larger picture | ||
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by Scott Joplin (1907) |
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Click on cover artwork for larger picture | ||
Purchase Some Ragtime CDs, Tapes, Sheet Music or Books!!
Many folks have e-mailed me to ask where they can obtain sheet music of the ragtime
pieces which I have sequenced, or recordings of ragtime music. In order to help make this easier, I have agreed to become an "associate site" for Amazon.com. The links below will let you purchase ragtime sheet music, audio CDs, tapes, and books from Amazon.com by mail-order.
If you purchase your items this way you will not only be getting a discounted price below what most music stores charge, you will also be helping to sponsor my own ragtime MIDI site.
Shipping information was obtained from Amazon.com's catalog, but current shipping info may be different.
Editorial comments are my own opinions about the books listed. Please note that I have not personally reviewed all of the books in the list below.
-- Warren Trachtman --
In addition to the specific titles listed below, you can use this search form to look for other books or audio CDs.
Ragtime Sheet Music Collections
- Scott Joplin Complete Piano Rags
- Edited by Dave Jason/ Paperback / Published 1989
The title says it all. -
Classic Piano Rags ~
Usually ships in 24 hours - Rudi Blesh / Paperback / Published 1974
One of my favorite collections. Contains a nice sampling of pieces by Joplin, Lamb, Scott, Turpin, and several others. Sheet music for 81 ragtime piano compositions in one book. Includes "Maple Leaf Rag", "The Entertainer", "Elite Syncopations", and many other Joplin pieces. Also includes "Cataract Rag", "Tickled to Death", "Cum-Bac Rag", "Kinklets", "Harlem Rag", "St. Louis Rag", "Rag-time Nightmare", "The Smiler", "Sleepy Hollow Rag".
CLICK HERE for a complete listing of pieces in this collection -
Ragtime Rediscoveries : Sixty-Four Works from the Golden Age of Rag
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Ships in 2-3 days - Trebor J. Tichenor / Paperback / Published 1979
Another good collection containing sheet music for 64 ragtime pieces by a variety of composers. Includes "Keystone Rag", "Possum Rag", "The Cannon Ball", "Ophelia Rag", "Holy Moses Rag", among others. -
Ragtime Gems ~
Ships in 2-3 days - David A. Jasen / Paperback / Published 1986
Sheet music for 25 classic piano rags. Includes "Powder Rag", "Dill Pickles", "Temptation Rag", "Fig Leaf", "Rose Leaf", "Searchlight", "Sapho Rag", "Wild Cherries", and "Grace & Beauty Rag" among others.
CLICK HERE for a complete listing of pieces in this collection -
Ragtime Jubilee : 42 Piano Gems, 1911-21
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Usually ships in 24 hours - David A. Jasen (Editor) / Paperback / Published 1997
- The Music of James Scott
- Scott Deveaux, William Howland Kenney (Editor) / Hardcover / Published 1992
(Special Order)
This is essentially the complete published works of James Scott (excluding the controversial Calliope Rag), containing 30 rags, 4 Waltzes, and 4 songs. Compiled and edited by DeVeaux and Kenney for the Smithsonian Press, this book contains historical information in addition to the sheet music. DeVeaux and Kenney also corrected many printing errors in the originally published sheet music for the reprints in this collection. - Piano Music of Jelly Roll Morton/50335190
- Paperback / Published 1986 (Special Order)
I think this is the Hal Leonard Publishing reprint of the Smithsonian Press book of "The Collected Piano Music of Ferdinand 'Jelly Roll' Morton", by James Dapogny. I have the Smithsonian Press version, which has the same "HL50335190" number, but my copy has a different ISBN number. - Zez Confrey Piano Solos Ragtime, Novelty, and Jazz
- Ronny S. Schiff (Editor) / Paperback / Published 1984 (Special Order)
A great collection of Zez Confrey's ragtime/novelty/jazz piano works. Contains 90 piano compositions, including "Kitten on the Keys", "Dizzy Fingers", "Greenwich Witch", "Nickel in the Slot", "Coaxing the Piano" . - Harlem Stride Piano Solos
- Transcribed by Riccardo Scivales / Paperback / Published 1990 (Special Order)
A great collection of transcriptions of Harlem Stride style piano pieces. Contains 26 piano trascriptioins, featuring pieces by James P. Johnson, Fats Waller, Willie "The Lion" Smith, Cliff Jackson, and others.
CLICK HERE for a complete listing of pieces in this collection. -
Alexander's Ragtime Band and Other Favorite Song Hits, 1901-1911
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Usually ships in 24 hours - David A. Jasen (Editor) / Paperback / Published 1987
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All American Ragtime -Volume 4
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(Special Order) Usually ships in 4-6 weeks - John L. Haag (Editor) / Paperback / Published 1989
CLICK HERE for a complete listing of pieces in this collection -
All American Ragtime -Volume 5
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(Special Order) Usually ships in 4-6 weeks - John L. Haag (Editor) / Paperback / Published 1995
CLICK HERE for a complete listing of pieces in this collection -
The Art of Jazz : Ragtime to Bebop
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Usually ships in 24 hours - Martin T., Ed. Williams / Paperback / Published 1988
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Ragtime & Early Blues Piano ((The Library Of....))
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Ships in 2-3 days - Amy Appleby / Paperback / Published 1996
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Songs of Irving Berlin : Ragtime and Early Songs
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Ships in 2-3 days - Irving Berlin / Paperback / Published 1991
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This Is Ragtime
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Ships in 2-3 days - Terry Waldo / Paperback / Published 1991
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Barrelhouse and Boogie Piano
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Ships in 2-3 days - Eric Kriss /Paperback / Published 1975
- The Complete Blues & Ragtime Guitar Player (The Complete Guitar Player Series)
- Russ Shipton / Paperback / Published 1996 (Special Order)
- Complete Ragtime Guitar Book
- Paperback / Published 1993 (Special Order)
- Scott Joplin & the Age of Ragtime (Life, Times and Music Series) (Special Order)
- Timothy Frew / Hardcover / Published 1996
- Songs from Ragtime Easy Piano : The Musical(Special Order)
- Dan Coates / Paperback / Published 1998
AUDIO CDs and Cassette Tapes
- Joplin:Piano Rags
- Joshua Rifkin / Audio CD / Published 1987
These classic performances by Joshua Rifkin were pivotal in the ragtime revival of the 1970s - Phantom Fingers
- Alex Hassan/ Audio CD / Published 1998
Syncopated rhythmic novelty piano at its finest performed by a widely recognized master of the genre, and one of the NVRS' star performers. - Fingerbreaker
- Morten Gunnar Larsen/ Audio CD / Published 1999
Amazing performances and interpretations by one of today's most talented ragtime performers - Complete Stark Rags of Joseph F. Lamb
- Guido Nielson/ Audio CD / Published 1999
- The Red Back Book / Joplin
- Gunther Schuller & New England Conservatory Ragtime Ensemble/ Audio CD / Published 1987
Excellent performances of classic ragtime orchestrations. - Classic Ragtime from Rare Piano Rolls
- James Scott / Audio CD / Published 1997
- The Complete Works Of Scott Joplin [Box]
- Performer not named / Audio CD / Published 1993
- Ragtime Bigtime
- Jenks, Grinstead/ Audio CD / Published 1996
Great duo piano arrangements and performances of some classic rags! - Ragtime Special
- Elite Syncopators / Audio CD / Published 1995
Includes some rarely performed Lamb pieces (Ragged Rapids Rag, Ragtime Special, Old Home Rag, Rapid Transit Rag). Their piano player, Terry Parrish, has been a featured performer at the NVRS several times. - Bucktown In The 90's
- French, Kirby / Audio CD / Published 1996
Excellent two piano arrangements and performances of some wonderful ragtime pieces. - A Century Of Ragtime - 2 Cd Set
- Various Artists / Audio CD / Published 1997
- Roots Of Ragtime
- Dick Zimmerman / Audio CD / Published 1994
- Spirit Of Ragtime
- Armstrong, Hines, Bechet, Joplin / Audio CD / 1998
- The Master Of Ragtime Guitar: Essential Recordings
- Blind Blake/ Audio CD / 1996
- Ragtime Guitar's Formost Fingerpicker
- Blind Blake/ Audio CD / 1990
- Ragtime Guitar: Ten Classic Rags By...
- Joplin, Lamb / Audio CD / 1997
- The following CDs were previously available, but are not listed in the newly revised Amazon.com music catalog.
- Check back soon to see if they are re-listed
- Night Cap
- Tom Roberts/ Audio CD / Published 1997
Ragtime, stride, Boogie-woogie, jazz piano performed by a superbly talented pianist. Tom Roberts has also been a featured performer for the NVRS
Appears to be missing from new Catalog! - Ravenna
- Scott Kirby / Audio CD / Published 1997
Appears to be missing from new Catalog! - Joplin:Treemonisha
- Original Cast / Audio CD / Published 1992 (Special Order)
Appears to be missing from new Catalog! - Original Piano Rolls 1896-1917
- Scott Joplin/ Audio CD / Published 1995
Appears to be missing from new Catalog!
Books About Ragtime
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King of Ragtime : Scott Joplin and His Era
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Ships in 2-3 days - Edward A. Berlin / Paperback / Published 1996
Ed Berlin is one of the premier authorities on ragtime. His books are always well researched and authoritative.
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Ragtime : A Musical and Cultural History ~
Ships in 2-3 days - Edward A. Berlin / Paperback / Published 1984
Ed Berlin is one of the premier authorities on ragtime. His books are always well researched and authoritative.
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Rags and Ragtime : A Musical History
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Usually ships in 24 hours - David A. Jasen, Trebor Jay Tichenor / Paperback / Published 1989
A great reference resource. - Scott Joplin : A Life in Ragtime (Impact Biographies)
- Steven Otfinoski / School & Library Binding / Published 1995
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The Jazz Book : From Ragtime to Fusion and Beyond
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Usually ships in 24 hours - Joachim E. Berendt, Gunther Huesmann / Paperback / Published 1992
- Jazz Bibliography : International Literature on Jazz, Blues, Spirituals, Gospel and Ragtime Music
- Bernhard Hefele / Hardcover / Published 1981 (Special Order)
- Reflections and Research on Ragtime (I.S.A.M. Monographs, No 24)
- Edward A. Berlin / Paperback / Published 1987 (Special Order)
- Tantalizing Tingles : A Discography of Early Ragtime, Jazz, and Novelty Syncopated Piano Recordings, 1889-1934 (Discographies, No 59)
- Ross Laird / Hardcover / Published 1995 (Special Order)
- Whos Who in Jazz of Montreal Ragtime to 1970
- Gilmore / Paperback / Published 1990 (Special Order)
