Scott Joplin is celebrated as the United States? first well-known black composer, making his name as a writer of piano rags. His life was a constant struggle with adversity, and Joplin died relatively young in 1917, at the dawn of the recording age. Few remembered Joplin?s music until a revival in the 1970s brought The Entertainer and others to the world?s attention. Nowadays Scott Joplin has taken his rightful place in the gallery of great American composers.

The Rags included in this collection are, The Entertainer, The Maple Leaf Rag, The Easy Winners, The Elite Syncopations and The Favorite.

They have been arranged as solos for one Cello with piano accompaniment, and include all sections of the original compositions. You will download one pdf file that contains both 22 pages of piano score and the 10 page solo part. These pieces are suitable for players at an intermediate and advanced intermediate level. Musicians will find these Ragtime solos ideal for formal and informal performances, light and fun, yet still a serious and vitally important part of the American musical heritage. The overall performance time for all five is around 25 minutes.

Teachers will enjoy using these arrangements as a fun way to help with phrasing, syncopated rhythms and light articulation.

Click on the YouTube link to see and hear samples from the collection. There are many more top quality arrangements and compositions by David McKeown for you to browse at http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/david-mckeown/6203

This volume from the popular 'Cellissimo' series contains 37 popular recital pieces from classical to pop music. It is suitable for lessons, performances and competitions. As there is little literature for the cello in jazz and pop style, this volume has a special focus on modern styles such as blues, jazz, pop, rock, funk, folk, Latin, or tango. The selection motivates and introduces to playing techniques of pop music (slide, hard chop etc). Many pieces can be played in the 1st - 4th position, while some also use harmonics or the 5th - 7th position. Entertaining music has existed at all times, so the volume also contains arrangements of popular classics: 'Eine kleine Nachtmusik' by Mozart, 'An der schonen blauen Donau' by Johann Strauss, 'Pomp and Circumstance' by Edward Elgar, or 'The Entertainer' by Scott Joplin. The motivational package for cello lessons!