The Red Back Book Explained

Scott Joplin: The Red Back Book
Type:Studio
Artist:New England Ragtime Ensemble
Cover:File:Scott_Joplin_The_Red_Back_Book.png
Released:1973
Recorded:February 1973
Venue:Jordan Hall
Genre:Jazz
Length:36:18
Label:Capitol Records
Producer:George Sponhaltz

Scott Joplin: The Red Back Book is an album by the New England Ragtime Ensemble conducted by Gunther Schuller featuring the music of Scott Joplin arranged by E.J. Stark and D.S. De Lisle. The "Red Back Book" of the album title is taken from the popular name for the collection of band arrangements of ragtime music featuring Joplin's music, "Standard High-Class Rags" published by the Stark Music Company of St. Louis around 1912.[1] The name came from the red color of the front and back cover.

Reception

The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow stated "Hearing Joplin's music interpreted by a group consisting of trumpet, trombone, clarinet, flute/piccolo, tuba, piano, bass, drums and a string quartet helps cast new light on these vintage themes." The Red Back Book earned a Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music Performance of 1973. It spent 54 weeks on Billboard's Top 100 Albums List.[2] [3]

Track listing

All music by Scott Joplin arranged by E.J. Stark and D.S. De Lisle for chamber ensemble.

  1. "The Cascades" – 3:27
  2. "Sun Flower Slow Drag" – 3:07
  3. "The Chrysanthemum" – 3:44
  4. "The Entertainer" (solo piano version) – 4:00
  5. "Sugar Cane" – 3:20
  6. "The Easy Winners" – 3:56
  7. "The Entertainer" – 4:15
  8. "Sun Flower Drag" (solo piano version) – 3:27
  9. "Maple Leaf Rag" – 3:11

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Standard High-Class Rags (Stark, Etilmon Justus) – IMSLP: Free Sheet Music PDF Download . 2022-11-09 . imslp.org.
  2. News: Schuller's kinetic kids win Grammy. The Boston Evening Globe. March 5, 1974. Robert A.. McLean.
  3. Web site: Awards Nominations & Winners. GRAMMY.com. January 24, 2021.