Joplin: Ragtime Favorites For Strings, Violin 1 Part

Category: Jazz, Rags, & Blues, String Quartet ** Composer: Joplin, Scott ** Title: Ragtime Favorites for Strings ** Book/Part: Violin 1 ** Arranger: William Zinn ** Publisher: Belwin-Mills Publishing.

"Ragtime Favorites is a collection of Joplin rags, arranged for string quartet with an optional bass part by William Zinn. The collection includes: Country Club * Euphonic Sounds * Heliotrope Bouquet * Maple Leaf Rag * Paragon Rag * Pineapple Rag * and Scott Joplins New Rag. Although the parts are not equal in difficulty levels, the bass parts are significantly easier than the treble and alto, the collection is a great addition to a professionals gig or high school string orchestra conductors library. In the arrangements, the treble and alto parts challenges include use of the higher positions, double stops and octaves and many syncopated rhythms. The cellist is given a moving bass line or an occasional unison with the rest of the group. Unfortunately, the bassists role is a watered down version of the cello part. There is a slight difficulty in the collaboration of the parts in the ensemble, especially if treble and alto players are not feeling a steady eighth note pulse. It is quite easy to 'fudge' the syncopations in the piece, but the effect of the rag is lost when they are. Who doesn't enjoy playing or hearing a good rag."