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Ragtime: America's Forgotten Soundtrack Revealed
27 Oct
Summary
- Ragtime shaped contemporary genres like jazz and Broadway musicals.
- The genre emerged as the soundtrack for America's new leisure time.
- An exhibition will explore ragtime's origins and challenges.
Ragtime, a foundational genre of American popular music, is being highlighted in a new exhibition at the Morgan Library & Museum. This musical style, born from a fusion of West African and European influences, characterized the early 20th century with its distinct syncopated rhythms.
The "Ragtime: Cakewalk in Pianoland" exhibition, running from November 13 to June 13, 2027, seeks to illuminate the genre's rich history. It will move beyond typical piano-centric narratives to focus on the Black artists who pioneered the sound.
The exhibition will explore the significant challenges these artists faced within the segregated United States. It also examines ragtime's immense popularity and its profound racial, political, and cultural implications, connecting its legacy to contemporary music.
