Quotes on Ragtime

New Orleans had a great tradition of celebration. Opera, military marching bands, folk music, the blues, different types of church music, ragtime, echoes of traditional African drumming, and all of the dance styles that went with this music could be heard and seen throughout the city. When all of these kinds of music blended into one, jazz was born.

Syncopations are no indication of light or trashy music, and to shy bricks at 'hateful ragtime' no longer passes for musical culture.

Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.

Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.

Don t play this piece fast. It is never right to play ragtime fast.

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.