Stravinsky’s Ragtime for Eleven Instruments: Historical and Stylistic Considerations

This is a historical and analytical study of Ragtime for Eleven Instruments by Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971). From a traditional ragtime stylistic approach (SCHAFER; RIEDEL, 1973. BERLIN, 1980), this study aims to search for evidence of popular elements in the compositional material of Ragtime for Eleven Instruments and any influence of ragtime arrangements in Stravinsky's piece. Disregarding historical evidence and statements by the composer himself who claimed to have had contact with instrumental parts of ragtime arrangements brought from America by his friend Ernest Ansermet, this comparative music analysis shows similar musical features between Ragtime for Eleven Instruments and examples from the High-Class Standard Rags collection