Charles Mathews: Ragtime for Dance CD

Made popular by Kenneth MacMillan’s 1974 ballet Elite Syncopations, ragtime has enjoyed a strong relationship with dance, both in the studio and on the stage. Its syncopated rhythms and energetic pulse make it perfect for tendus, glissés, frappés and a variety of jumps, as well as music for other forms of dance, such as tap, modern, contemporary and more. 
Here is a collection of rags by a variety of composers, including James Scott, Joseph Lamb, and of course, Scott Joplin. In this collection, you will find fast rags, medium rags, slow rags and even a couple of ragtime waltzes, which are unusual in that they are in 3/4 time, but feature the same syncopated rhythms that are a hallmark of the much more common 2/4 or 4/4 rag. Every piece has been edited into even phrases of 8 so that they will fit into any dance class or choreography project with ease. The piano used is a Steinway D Concert Grand.

Charles Mathews – Biography