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Quiz about Scott Joplin The King of Ragtime

Scott Joplin, "The King of Ragtime" Quiz

Joplin was much more than "The Entertainer" of his day. How much do you know about his life and music? Good luck!

A multiple-choice quiz by jaike. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
jaike

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
186,040

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
307

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Scott Joplin was a composer of classical discipline. What was his instrument of choice? Hint

Clarinet

Piano

Drums

Violin

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Question 2 of 10

2. In the early 1890s Joplin moved from Texas to which midwestern state? Hint

Iowa

Missouri

Ohio

Illinois

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Question 3 of 10

3. Joplin's first major publication (or "hit" as we would call it today) was named "Maple Leaf Rag". The title's namesake was which of the following? Hint

Town

Restaurant

Social club

Park

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Question 4 of 10

4. Joplin wrote two operas. The first was called "A Guest of Honor". The piece was never copyrighted or published, and the score was confiscated. Why? Hint

The Library of Congress wished to censor the piece

It was an infringement on another opera

To pay debts

Publisher John Stark felt the music was unsophisticated

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Question 5 of 10

5. The 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis was graced by a special composition by Joplin. What piece did he write for the affair? Hint

"The Cascades"

"The Easy Winners"

"The Entertainer"

"Paragon Rag"

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Question 6 of 10

6. Joplin's piano rags were arranged and used as the soundtrack for what 1973 movie? Hint

"The Sting"

"The China Syndrome"

"Silver Streak"

"Deliverance"

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Question 7 of 10

7. Joplin suffered from what illness which left him mentally unstable towards the end of his life? Hint

Bi-Polar Disorder

Depression

Syphilis

Schizophrenia

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Question 8 of 10

8. Joplin blamed which famous composer for stealing music from his second opera, "Treemonisha"? Hint

Irving Berlin

Ira Gershwin

"Jelly Roll" Morton

Fats Waller

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Question 9 of 10

9. Joplin wrote a musical, a symphony, and a piano concerto.

True

False

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Question 10 of 10

10. Joplin produced a full production of "Treemonisha" in 1915.

True

False

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Scott Joplin was a composer of classical discipline. What was his instrument of choice?

Answer: Piano

Joplin also played the cornet, violin, and sang.

2. In the early 1890s Joplin moved from Texas to which midwestern state?

Answer: Missouri

Joplin began his musical career in Sedalia, Missouri. He reached meager success playing in traveling ensembles. While not traveling, he developed himself into a serious composer and began publishing ragtime music. Although Joplin also lived in Chicago and St. Louis, Sedalia currently hosts the annual Scott Joplin Festival.

3. Joplin's first major publication (or "hit" as we would call it today) was named "Maple Leaf Rag". The title's namesake was which of the following?

Answer: Social club

The Maple Leaf Club was one of two places for black men of the Sedalia area to gather; the Black 400 Club was the other. Joplin played piano for both venues. "Maple Leaf Rag" payed Joplin a steady income his entire life. Even after his death, the piece was continually puchased at the same rate for approximately 10 more years.

4. Joplin wrote two operas. The first was called "A Guest of Honor". The piece was never copyrighted or published, and the score was confiscated. Why?

Answer: To pay debts

Joplin set out on a tour to promote the opera. Someone stole the box office monies from a performance leaving Joplin in a financial pickle. Trapped in an alien town, he was forced to turn over all possessions, including his opera, to pay off outstanding debts. The opera was never recovered.

5. The 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis was graced by a special composition by Joplin. What piece did he write for the affair?

Answer: "The Cascades"

The piece was inspired by a display of eloquent cascades. The music and colored watershows made the overall aesthetic of the fair spectacular.

6. Joplin's piano rags were arranged and used as the soundtrack for what 1973 movie?

Answer: "The Sting"

Composer/conductor Marvin Hamlisch's rendition of "The Entertainer" made it the most famous of all Joplin's works. This soundtrack also brought into effect a cultural revival of Ragtime which lasted for most of the 1970's.

7. Joplin suffered from what illness which left him mentally unstable towards the end of his life?

Answer: Syphilis

He was committed to a mental institution where he died on April 1, 1917.

8. Joplin blamed which famous composer for stealing music from his second opera, "Treemonisha"?

Answer: Irving Berlin

In 1910, Joplin gave the opera to Berlin in hopes of publication. Berlin gave it back to him a few months later and refused to publish it. The following year, Berlin's hit "Alexander's Ragtime Band" set Joplin off on this accusation of stealing. He then altered the section of "Treemonisha" he believed Berlin stole, and published the opera himself.

9. Joplin wrote a musical, a symphony, and a piano concerto.

Answer: True

All the manuscripts were lost. It seems Joplin had very bad luck in attempting to broaden his musical horizons beyond writing/publishing piano rags.

10. Joplin produced a full production of "Treemonisha" in 1915.

Answer: False

Unfortunately, Joplin never saw his opera fully performed. It was not until the 1970s revival of Ragtime that the opera reached Broadway success. In addition to newfound respect for Joplin's works, he was also posthumously honored by the Pulitzer Committee in 1976. Today his music is credited as a major influence in the development of New Orleans Dixieland, Jazz, Blues, Swing, and even some Country-Western.

Source: Author jaike

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