“The Cascades” by Scott Joplin

Scott Joplin lived in St. Louis from 1901 to around 1907. Over that six-year period, he published at least 25 different rags, including “The Entertainer,” a piece that ranks among the most iconic American songs of all time. While it is exciting to envision Joplin playing at the 1904 World’s Fair, his involvement with the Fair went no further than composing this piece. Inspired by the Fair’s spectacular waterfall centerpiece, “The Cascades” strolls along, with notes gently bubbling up and down. Its second half features a compositional texture that shows how Joplin commanded the keys.

Object Title and Accession Number

“The Cascades” by Scott Joplin. Printed by John Stark and Son Music Co., 1904. Lib0004-007.