Information about the piece

The Entertainer is one of the most popular pieces penned by Scott Joplin, an American composer and pianist known as the King of Ragtime.

Written in 1902, during the ragtime era of the late 19th and early 20th century, The Entertainer was aptly named by Joplin, reflecting its toe-tapping energy and lively rhythm. It became widely recognized for its syncopated, or 'ragged', rhythms. Despite its playful sound, the complexity of this piece is noted by many musicians.

Musically, The Entertainer is one of the masterpieces of its genre. This ragtime piece showcases bold syncopation married with a melody that dances above the bass line. Other notable aspects include:

• Intro-A-A-B-B-A-C-C-Intro2-D-D structure, with four distinct sections often called 'strains'
• Use of a duple meter, common in ragtime compositions
• Key of C Major, but modulates to a variety of keys throughout the piece

While The Entertainer was popular in its time, it gained notable resurgence in the 1970s when it was famously used as the theme music for the movie 'The Sting', winning an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score. To this day, it is synonymous with the ragtime genre and is a treasured piece for pianists worldwide.

For intermediate to advanced piano players who love ragtime and are eager to master The Entertainer, we offer a version of the sheet music ready for download immediately after purchase. Our sheet music will help you appreciate the intricacies of Scott Joplin's composition while improving your understanding of the ragtime structure and syncopation.