Obscure Music Monday: Joplin's A Breeze from Alabama

Scott Joplin (c. 1867/68 - April 1, 1917) was an African-American composer and pianist, who came to be known as the "King of Ragtime Writers". Joplin was born in to a family of railroad laborers in Texas, but got as much musical knowledge as he could from local teachers, and ended up  forming a vocal quartet, and teaching mandolin and guitar. He later left for the south to work as a itinerant musician, and eventually found his way up  to Chicago for the World's Fair of 1893, which contributed towards the ragtime craze.

Joplin isn't an obscure composer, yet so many of his works are overlooked in favor of his two most well known rags--The Entertainer, and the Maple Leaf rags. He also wrote marches and two-steps, and A Breeze from Alabama is a march and a two-step, written in 1902. It starts off with a very Joplin-esque introduction, and then opens up to the main theme. All four sections of these work are as jolly as can be, including the transitions. The piece isn't terribly difficult, and will entertain anyone who enjoys Joplin's compositions!

Here are some recordings of this work for you to enjoy!

Waldham Ragtime Pianos
Ragtime Piano Classics