Ragtime was my lullaby.
Don t play this piece fast. It is never right to play ragtime fast.
One day the 'Maple Leaf' will make me King of Ragtime Composers.
I am often asked the question How can the masses permit themselves to be exploited by the few. The answer is By being persuaded to identify with them.
The historian will tell you what happened. The novelist will tell you what it felt like.
It was evident to him that the world composed and recomposed itself constantly in an endless process of dissatisfaction.
Syncopations are no indication of light or trashy music, and to shy bricks at 'hateful ragtime' no longer passes for musical culture.
It proposed that human beings, by the act of making witness, warranted times and places for their existence other than the time and place they were living through.
Ragtime was a fanfare for the 20th century.
Marching onward, marching onward Marching to that lovely tune Marching onward, marching onward Happy as a bird in June Sliding onward, sliding onward Listen to that rag Hop and skip now do that slow, oh Do that slow drag Dance slowly, prance slowly Now you hear that pretty rag Dance slowly, prance slowly Now you do the real slow drag Waltz slowly, waltz slowly Listen to the ragtime Hop and skip Now do the slow, oh, do the slow drag
