Request For Discussion
Drafted by: keeper@cats.ucsc.edu (Ron O'Dell)

Proposed group: rec.music.ragtime
Status        : unmoderated
Distribution  : world
Summary       : Ragtime and related music styles

The proposed group rec.music.ragtime would be a discussion group
with a wide-ranging focus.  All styles of music associated with
ragtime -- the syncopated American music which took the world by
storm in the early 20th century and continues to be composed and
performed to this day -- would be subject matter for the group,
including:

Pre-`ragtime' music of the 19th century, such as the works of
   American composer Louis Moreau Gottschalk.

   Typical `ragtime': cake walks, two steps, the classic rags of
   Scott Joplin, James Scott, Joseph Lamb et al.

   Original blues, which was and is played in ragtime.

   The Latin-American influx, including the tangos of Brazilian
   composer Ernesto Nazareth.

   The `Oriental Foxtrot' dance craze of the 1910s.

   The `jass' sound popularized (or invented) by composers such as
   Jelly Roll Morton which led into what today is called jazz.

   The `novelty' sounds of the 1920s, from composers such as Zez Confrey
   and George Gershwin.

Stride piano or organ music of composers such as James P. Johnson
   or `Fats' Waller.

   Boogie-Woogie music of the 1930s, from people such as Meade `Lux' Lewis.

   The `honky-tonk' sounds of the middle part of the century, from people
   such as Joe `Fingers' Carr.

   `Contemporary ragtime' styles as performed by pianists, bands
   and orchestras worldwide today.

All these forms are heard at ragtime festivals around the world today.

The group would cater to all people interested in any of these styles,
including:

   Performers, of any instrument
   Composers
   Dancers
   Historians
   Sheet music collectors
   Piano/orchestrion roll collectors
   People who just have a good taste in music

Discussion topics would range from:

   Technicalities of performance on any instrument.
   Analysis of a composer's works.
   The many different types of dance associated with ragtime.
   The influences that the music had on society, or that society
      had on it.
   Where to find original scores from the era, and how to determine
      their value.
   Where to find ragtime anthology books, or where to purchase
      compositions by contemporary artists.
   Where to find literature on the history and people of ragtime.
   Where to find original piano rolls, recuts from the era or new
      rolls being produced today.
Reviews of past and new recordings.
   Reviews of ragtime clubs and publications.
   Announcements of upcoming concerts and festivals.

Rationale:

Currently there is no place on usenet for discussion of this type
of music, which has a large and growing following, increasing
number of performers worldwide, plus more festivals and concerts and
more new compositions and recordings being produced every year.

Occasionally a ragtime pianist has been able to get one or two
sympathetic pairs of eyes on rec.music.makers.piano, but ragtime
is not just piano music, and there are many non-performers who
enjoy it.

If I, Ron O'Dell, may go into first person for a moment:  I discovered
ragtime music because of computers, and began arranging and composing
rags on my computer, never knowing that there was a large ragtime scene
out there, or that my area had a 16-year-old ragtime radio show.  I have
met other people on the net -- in non-music groups -- who enjoy ragtime
but are not aware of all the composers and performers, concerts, etc.,
that exist today.  The group rec.music.ragtime would be a great service
to those with a passing interest in the music who want to know more and
want to meet others with the same interest, and who want to be exposed
to more styles which fall under the `ragtime' banner.

Discussion period for this proposal shall last for no longer
than 30 days after its posting to news.announce.newgroups,
and all such discussion shall take place on news.groups.
After that period, a vote shall be conducted by a neutral
third party -- the voting period to last for 30 days.

This proposal and the subsequent Call For Votes shall be posted
also to rec.music.misc and rec.music.makers.piano.