The Entertainer: 2 Trumpets & Keyboard Part(s)

David Marlatt's arrangement preserves the irresistible rhythmic drive of Joplin's original while giving trumpet players genuine musical partnership rather than simple melody doubling. The interplay between solo passages and newly composed counter melodies keeps the piano part engaged and stylistically consistent, making this feel like a chamber piece rather than a transcription. Medium level players gain exposure to authentic ragtime idioms and syncopation without overwhelming technical demands.

Effervescent and sophisticated, with a stride piano foundation that pulls you forward and trumpet lines that dance across the syncopated landscape. There is joy in the writing, but also historical weight; you are inhabiting music that changed what America's musical identity could be.

Intermediate brass players seeking repertoire that develops rhythmic independence and stylistic awareness beyond standard classical idioms. Trumpet duos looking for a crowd-pleasing arrangement with genuine musical substance, or chamber ensembles wanting to explore American musical traditions alongside European art song and sonata literature.

• Articulate the ragtime rhythm with crisp but not mechanical precision; let the piano's stride bass establish the groove before the trumpets enter.
• Balance the trumpets so the melody sings clearly above the piano, but maintain enough warmth that the brass section doesn't overshadow Marlatt's counter melodies in the accompaniment.
• Shape the phrasing across each section rather than chopping it into small fragments; ragtime thrives on forward momentum and conversational exchanges between the instruments.
• Listen carefully during passages where the piano carries the melody solo; the trumpet players should track the harmonic and rhythmic gestures to anticipate entrances and understand the larger form.

Place this in a concert celebrating American composers or in a chamber music recital that pairs classical chamber works with music rooted in popular traditions. It also works as a lighter encore after heavier classical repertoire, or as a bridge piece in a program exploring how classical forms and vernacular music influenced each other in the twentieth century.

• Syncopated rhythm reading and execution in ragtime idioms
• Balance and blend between trumpet and keyboard in chamber settings
• Stylistic interpretation of early twentieth-century American music
• Independence in trumpet duet parts that move between melody and counter melody roles
• Listening and responding to harmonic movement in stride piano accompaniment