Friday, April 15, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Interview with Scott Joplin
“Glad to have a chance to finally sit down with you Mr. Joplin.”
“Pleasures all mine young man.”
“Anyway, I wanted to ask you, What made you get into the arts? I mean, What inspired you?”
“Well, when I was young my family was very poor, but this nice old german man Taught me free-o-charge. I was always interested in music as a child.”
“I see. Was he the only one who aided you?”
“No sir, my friends always took an interest and my teachers encouraged me too. Everyone really helped me get here, in their own way.
“What was the world of ragtime before you?”
“Son I don’t mean to toot my own piano, but there was no ragtime before me.”
“Very well said. What from your surroundings affected you?”
“I was poor, but that didn’t matter, they taught me for free. I was black, but hey, Get over it. If people don’t buy my music because of difference in skin, then that’s their ignorance.”
“What were your biggest succeses?”
“My biggest successes, as well as my favorites, were always maple leaf rag and the entertainer. When I was sad and needed a pick-me-up, I just sat down and played. I hope that’s how most people feel when they listen.”
“What opportunities were given to you throughout your career?”
“One thing I am not, and that is an opportunist. Everything I did was as soon as I could with as much soul as I could, and opportunity or not I worked.”
“Ahh. So what choices in your life made you so sucdesful?”
“I was never that successful, most of my fame came Post-mortem. I just played the soul that the good lord gave me and hoped.”
“I see. What were your biggest obsticles?”
“I didn’t really have many obstacles, but I was walking in high water. I never quite had much momentum from my first ragtime works.”
“Thank you. What were your greatest limitations.”
“Ain’t that the same? Well I guess since I was black many people limited me like that, but I never saw it that way.”
“ Lets wrap up.What personal stories (anecdotes) best illustrate how you became successful in the arts?”
“Wikipedia my good man, Wikipedia.”
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