Lessons · Showcase

The Entertainer

Joplin: straight bass, syncopated tune

% RAGTIME is one trick told two ways at once: the left hand walks
% dead-straight eighths while the tune keeps landing OFF them. First
% the strut: a chromatic slide onto the tonic arpeggio, then the
% same figure an octave down, Joplin's own echo:
 
bpm 72
instrument plain
meter 2
unit 1/4
key c maj
 
Strut ::= 2 2# 3 '1 _2 3 '1 _2 3 '1 _4 -
Strut {Strut}@-12
 
 
% The straight half: OOM-PAH. Octave root on the beat, mid-range
% chord off it. A 2/4 measure is two of each:
 
Oom<bass> ::= ..1 _2 {.3 _2, .5 _2, 1 _2} ..5 _2 {.3 _2, .5 _2, 1 _2}
 
Oom Oom
 
 
% Put them together and the rag appears: the tune's accents fall
% BETWEEN the bass's, which is the whole style in one structure:
 
{Strut {Strut}@-12, Oom Oom Oom Oom}
 
 
% Straight vs ragged, side by side: the same three notes on the
% beat, then shifted a sixteenth early. The second line swings:
 
Square ::= 3 _2 '1 _2 3 _2 '1 _2
Ragged ::= 3 '1 _3 3 '1 _2 -
 
Square Ragged
 
 
% THE WHOLE RAG: all four strains at full length from the
% verified grammar, repeats and all (the FORM map reads the strain
% plan: A A′ B A′ … the classic ragtime chain).
 
bpm 72
meter 2
unit 1/4
key c4 maj
mode diatonic
 
% The cast, every motif and chord the lead line uses:
 
M46 ::= {''1, '1}
M26 ::= M46 {''2, '2}
M40 ::= {.1, ..1} _2
S11 ::= '2 '3 '1 6 _2 7 5 _2 2 3 1
M32 ::= 2 3b 3 '1 _2 3 '1 _2 3
M44 ::= {''2, '4, '2}
M12 ::= M44@~-1 M44 {''3, '5, '3} _2 M44@~-2 {''2, '4, '2} _2
M51 ::= {''1, '3, '1} _6
M6 ::= M32 '1 _6 M44@~-1 M44 {''3b, '5b, '3b} M44@~1 M12 M51
M57 ::= {''3, '3} M26 M40@~23 M26 M46
S9 ::= M6 M32 '1 _7 M44@~-3 {'5, '1, 5} {'5b, '1, 5b} {'6, 6} M46 M40@~23 {''2, '2} M46 {'6, 6} {''2, '4, '2} _6 M6 M26 M57 M57 M44@~1 M12
M16 ::= {''4, ''2, '4} {''5b, ''3b, '5b}
M48 ::= {'3, '1, 3} M16@-12
M30 ::= {'5, '3, 5} _2
M54 ::= {'6, '3, 6} M30
M25 ::= M54 M48 M30 M54 '3 '1 5 6 7 '1 '2 '3 '2 '1 '2
M4 ::= {4 _2, 2 _2? 1, .6 _2}
M21 ::= M4#2@~-1
M55 ::= '1 _2 6 '1
M58 ::= '1 '3 '5 _2 '3 '1 5
M47 ::= {'1, 5b} _2
M59 ::= {6, 5b} _2 M47 {'3, 4}
M43 ::= {'4, 6} _2
M33 ::= M30 M25 5 '3 '4 '5 '6 '5 '3 '4 M30 M54 M48 M30 M54 '5 '6 '7b 5Dia$5-1-3 M21@19 {'7, '5b, '1} _2 '6 {'5b, '1} '2 {'5, 7} _5 M48 M30 M25 '1 _5 5 5b 5 '1 _2 6 M55 6 5 M58 M59 M43@~-2
S1 ::= {a5, f5} g#5 {a5, f5} _4 'fMaj _2 bbMaj$5-1-3 _8 {f5, d5} e5 {f5, d5} _4 'dMin _2 gMin$5-1-3 _7 g5 d5 _2 g5 d5 _2 g5 d5 _2 c5 _4 f5 _4 e5 g#5 b5 e6 _2 d6 b5 c6 a5 _4 bb5 _4 {a5, f5} g#5 {a5, f5} _4 'fMaj _2 bbMaj$5-1-3 _8 {f5, d5} e5 {f5, d5} _4 'dMin _2 gMin$5-1-3 _7 g5 d5 _2 g5 d5 _2 g5 d5 _2 c5 _4 fDim$3-5-1 _3 f5 {a5, c5, a4} {c6, c5} _2 bb4 _3 bb4 _2
M42 ::= {.7, .5} _2
M56 ::= {5b, 3b} M42@~5
M7 ::= M56 M56
M17 ::= M7@-2 - 6 {'2, 4} 6 '1 '2 '1 6 M42@~5 M7 - '1 {'3, 5} '1 '2 '3 '2 '1
M53 ::= {5, 3}
M23 ::= M42@~4 M17 M42@~9 M7@7 - '4 {'6, 7} '4 '5 '6 '5 '4 M46 M46 {''1, '1} _4 M43@~2 {'5, '1} _2 M53 M53 M42@~5*2 M42@~4 M17 6 6b 6 {'5, 6} _2 M43 {'1, 6} {'3, 5} '3b '3 '6 _2 ''1 '5 '3 M47 M47 {'3, 7, 4} M4#2@~5
 
key d4 min
key c4 maj
% mm.1-4: M40 stepped through the scale · 2 voices.
F1a ::= | M26@2 M46 M40@~19 {'7, 7} M40@~18 |
  S11 - _5 - _4 5Dia$1-3-5-1 _2
F1a
 
% mm.1-4: M40 stepped through the scale · 2 voices.
F5a1 ::= S9 M51 S9
F5a2 ::= | {''1, '3, '1} _5 M48 |
F5a1 F5a2
 
 
% Part 2, from m.1
 
% mm.1-4: M40 stepped through the scale · 2 voices.
F37a ::= M33 {'1, 3} _6 {''3, ''1, '3} M16
F37a
 
% mm.1-4: M40 stepped through the scale · 2 voices.
F53a ::= M33 {'1, 3} _7
F53a
 
% mm.1-4: M40 stepped through the scale · 2 voices.
F69a2 ::= | {''1, '3, '1} _4 {''1, '3, '1} _2 - _2 |
S9 F69a2
 
% mm.1-4: M40 stepped through the scale · 2 voices.
S1
 
 
% Part 3, from m.1
 
key d4 min
% mm.1-4: M40 stepped through the scale · 2 voices.
F100a ::= | M43@~-1 7b 7 '1 '2 '3 '4 |
F100a
 
% mm.1-4: M40 stepped through the scale · 2 voices.
S1
 
 
% Part 4, from m.1
 
key c4 maj
% mm.1-4: M40 stepped through the scale · 2 voices.
F116a1 ::= | M43 - _2 '4Dia$1-3-5-1 _2 - _2 |
  | '1 _2 6 M55 6 |
  | 5 M58 |
F116a2 ::= M59 M43@~-2 {'1, 3} _5 '1Dia$1-3-5-1 _2 - _2
F116a1 F116a2
 
% mm.1-4: M40 stepped through the scale · 2 voices.
F121a ::= M23 1Dia$3-5-1 _3 M53 M53 M42@~5*2
F121a
 
% mm.1-4: M40 stepped through the scale · 2 voices.
F137a ::= M23 1Dia$3-5-1 _5 '1Dia$1-3-5-1 _2
F137a

% RAGTIME is one trick told two ways at once: the left hand walks
% dead-straight eighths while the tune keeps landing OFF them. First
% the strut: a chromatic slide onto the tonic arpeggio, then the
% same figure an octave down, Joplin's own echo:

bpm 72
instrument plain
meter 2
unit 1/4
key c maj

Strut ::= 2 2# 3 '1 _2 3 '1 _2 3 '1 _4 -
Strut {Strut}@-12

% The straight half: OOM-PAH. Octave root on the beat, mid-range
% chord off it. A 2/4 measure is two of each:

Oom<bass> ::= ..1 _2 {.3 _2, .5 _2, 1 _2} ..5 _2 {.3 _2, .5 _2, 1 _2}

Oom Oom

% Put them together and the rag appears: the tune's accents fall
% BETWEEN the bass's, which is the whole style in one structure:

{Strut {Strut}@-12, Oom Oom Oom Oom}

% Straight vs ragged, side by side: the same three notes on the
% beat, then shifted a sixteenth early. The second line swings:

Square ::= 3 _2 '1 _2 3 _2 '1 _2
Ragged ::= 3 '1 _3 3 '1 _2 -

Square Ragged

% THE WHOLE RAG: all four strains at full length from the
% verified grammar, repeats and all (the FORM map reads the strain
% plan: A A′ B A′ … the classic ragtime chain).

bpm 72
meter 2
unit 1/4
key c4 maj
mode diatonic

% The cast, every motif and chord the lead line uses:

M46 ::= {''1, '1}
M26 ::= M46 {''2, '2}
M40 ::= {.1, ..1} _2
S11 ::= '2 '3 '1 6 _2 7 5 _2 2 3 1
M32 ::= 2 3b 3 '1 _2 3 '1 _2 3
M44 ::= {''2, '4, '2}
M12 ::= M44@~-1 M44 {''3, '5, '3} _2 M44@~-2 {''2, '4, '2} _2
M51 ::= {''1, '3, '1} _6
M6 ::= M32 '1 _6 M44@~-1 M44 {''3b, '5b, '3b} M44@~1 M12 M51
M57 ::= {''3, '3} M26 M40@~23 M26 M46
S9 ::= M6 M32 '1 _7 M44@~-3 {'5, '1, 5} {'5b, '1, 5b} {'6, 6} M46 M40@~23 {''2, '2} M46 {'6, 6} {''2, '4, '2} _6 M6 M26 M57 M57 M44@~1 M12
M16 ::= {''4, ''2, '4} {''5b, ''3b, '5b}
M48 ::= {'3, '1, 3} M16@-12
M30 ::= {'5, '3, 5} _2
M54 ::= {'6, '3, 6} M30
M25 ::= M54 M48 M30 M54 '3 '1 5 6 7 '1 '2 '3 '2 '1 '2
M4 ::= {4 _2, 2 _2? 1, .6 _2}
M21 ::= M4#2@~-1
M55 ::= '1 _2 6 '1
M58 ::= '1 '3 '5 _2 '3 '1 5
M47 ::= {'1, 5b} _2
M59 ::= {6, 5b} _2 M47 {'3, 4}
M43 ::= {'4, 6} _2
M33 ::= M30 M25 5 '3 '4 '5 '6 '5 '3 '4 M30 M54 M48 M30 M54 '5 '6 '7b 5Dia$5-1-3 M21@19 {'7, '5b, '1} _2 '6 {'5b, '1} '2 {'5, 7} _5 M48 M30 M25 '1 _5 5 5b 5 '1 _2 6 M55 6 5 M58 M59 M43@~-2
S1 ::= {a5, f5} g#5 {a5, f5} _4 'fMaj _2 bbMaj$5-1-3 _8 {f5, d5} e5 {f5, d5} _4 'dMin _2 gMin$5-1-3 _7 g5 d5 _2 g5 d5 _2 g5 d5 _2 c5 _4 f5 _4 e5 g#5 b5 e6 _2 d6 b5 c6 a5 _4 bb5 _4 {a5, f5} g#5 {a5, f5} _4 'fMaj _2 bbMaj$5-1-3 _8 {f5, d5} e5 {f5, d5} _4 'dMin _2 gMin$5-1-3 _7 g5 d5 _2 g5 d5 _2 g5 d5 _2 c5 _4 fDim$3-5-1 _3 f5 {a5, c5, a4} {c6, c5} _2 bb4 _3 bb4 _2
M42 ::= {.7, .5} _2
M56 ::= {5b, 3b} M42@~5
M7 ::= M56 M56
M17 ::= M7@-2 - 6 {'2, 4} 6 '1 '2 '1 6 M42@~5 M7 - '1 {'3, 5} '1 '2 '3 '2 '1
M53 ::= {5, 3}
M23 ::= M42@~4 M17 M42@~9 M7@7 - '4 {'6, 7} '4 '5 '6 '5 '4 M46 M46 {''1, '1} _4 M43@~2 {'5, '1} _2 M53 M53 M42@~5*2 M42@~4 M17 6 6b 6 {'5, 6} _2 M43 {'1, 6} {'3, 5} '3b '3 '6 _2 ''1 '5 '3 M47 M47 {'3, 7, 4} M4#2@~5

key d4 min
key c4 maj
% mm.1-4: M40 stepped through the scale · 2 voices.
F1a ::= | M26@2 M46 M40@~19 {'7, 7} M40@~18 |
  S11 - _5 - _4 5Dia$1-3-5-1 _2
F1a

% mm.1-4: M40 stepped through the scale · 2 voices.
F5a1 ::= S9 M51 S9
F5a2 ::= | {''1, '3, '1} _5 M48 |
F5a1 F5a2

% Part 2, from m.1

% mm.1-4: M40 stepped through the scale · 2 voices.
F37a ::= M33 {'1, 3} _6 {''3, ''1, '3} M16
F37a

% mm.1-4: M40 stepped through the scale · 2 voices.
F53a ::= M33 {'1, 3} _7
F53a

% mm.1-4: M40 stepped through the scale · 2 voices.
F69a2 ::= | {''1, '3, '1} _4 {''1, '3, '1} _2 - _2 |
S9 F69a2

% mm.1-4: M40 stepped through the scale · 2 voices.
S1

% Part 3, from m.1

key d4 min
% mm.1-4: M40 stepped through the scale · 2 voices.
F100a ::= | M43@~-1 7b 7 '1 '2 '3 '4 |
F100a

% mm.1-4: M40 stepped through the scale · 2 voices.
S1

% Part 4, from m.1

key c4 maj
% mm.1-4: M40 stepped through the scale · 2 voices.
F116a1 ::= | M43 - _2 '4Dia$1-3-5-1 _2 - _2 |
  | '1 _2 6 M55 6 |
  | 5 M58 |
F116a2 ::= M59 M43@~-2 {'1, 3} _5 '1Dia$1-3-5-1 _2 - _2
F116a1 F116a2

% mm.1-4: M40 stepped through the scale · 2 voices.
F121a ::= M23 1Dia$3-5-1 _3 M53 M53 M42@~5*2
F121a

% mm.1-4: M40 stepped through the scale · 2 voices.
F137a ::= M23 1Dia$3-5-1 _5 '1Dia$1-3-5-1 _2
F137a

running…edit it and it re-runs as you type

The Entertainer · Showcase