Known as the 'king of ragtime', Scott Joplin was an American composer of the late 19th century and early 20th century. His ambition was to be a classical composer and concert pianist, but it was his compositions that gained him initial fame. His particular style of 'ragtime' was an immediate hit with audiences, and the component elements were quickly disseminated into compositions by Joplin's contemporaries.
Amongst his many songs and piano works, Joplin also wrote works for the stage. Although some of his operas have since been lost, his last work Treemonisha remains.
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