Rag-Time Dance: 6 Flutes Score & Parts

Marlatt's arrangement captures what makes Joplin's rags so teachable: the clear separation between melody and accompaniment becomes a feature rather than a limitation when distributed across six flutes. The newly composed counter melodies respect Joplin's idiom while giving players stake in nearly every measure, creating ensemble cohesion without drowning out the original melodic voice.

Joplin's characteristic stride and humor come through even more vividly when the flutes pass the melody around, creating a conversation rather than a monologue. The energy is bright and propulsive, with enough harmonic interest and textural variety to sustain attention across a full performance.

Flute ensembles at the intermediate level who want to experience an American masterwork in an arrangement that keeps all six players engaged. Directors looking for repertoire that teaches both technical fluency and stylistic awareness will find this particularly useful.

• Establish the syncopated rhythm as your foundation before adding articulation; ragtime lands differently than swing, and the ensemble needs unified clarity on where the beat sits beneath the syncopation.
• Balance the accompaniment parts so they support rather than compete with whoever carries the main melody in that section; voicing matters as much as individual intonation.
• Practice the transitions between melody assignments slowly, so the handoff feels inevitable rather than abrupt.
• Shape the newly composed counter melodies with the same attention to contour and phrasing you'd give the original Joplin lines; stylistic authenticity depends on treating all material with equal care.

Include this in a concert exploring American classical music alongside other 20th-century works, or feature it as a lighter moment that showcases ensemble precision and style. The medium difficulty makes it ideal for a mid-year festival or a mixed program where you want something spirited without extreme technical demands.

• Reading and executing syncopated rhythms with ensemble precision
• Distinguishing between the rhythmic weight of melody and accompaniment
• Balancing individual voice independence with collective ensemble sound
• Interpreting stylistically specific articulation and phrasing in ragtime idiom
• Managing the transition of lead melodic material between players