Over 1 Million Views! Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag" performed by Martin Spitznagel

[@HighWideandHandsome]

Let me just get this out of the way...this is _not_ too fast.

[@Spitzfire]

Bless you. You just saved me hours of replying to the ragtime tempo police :D

[@Keeper1st]

@@Spitzfire You can send them this link kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKbHdJ6DeK-aeKM

[@Spitzfire]

@@Keeper1st Yes! Absolutely I will. You've been fighting the good fight on this for years!

[@HighWideandHandsome]

@@Spitzfire Hey, I had to beat them back on the previous video after the fact, so now's my opportunity to beat them to the punch.

[@Spitzfire]

@@HighWideandHandsome I didn't think there was a silver lining to losing 1.3 million views, but you, good sir, just found it :)

[@oakridgemusic]

I'm impressed how soft your touch is at that speed. Sir you're a master !

[@igorbusi]

Fantastic !!!!!!!!!!

[@TheDeiness]

Someone with an ear and improv skills. Love it!

[@Spitzfire]

Thank you! One of the things I love about this genre is the invitation to add our own voice and ideas.

[@TheDeiness]

@@Spitzfirewell you’re killing it bro. Getting all kinds of outside Ab 😀

[@andrewturner5706]

The best thing about it was that he actually enjoyed it and even smiled.

[@chei24]

Shame it was taken down. Here for support and pumping it back up!

[@Spitzfire]

Christy Thank you!!!

[@merneptahtibidoh100]

Why??? WTF?

[@Spitzfire]

@@merneptahtibidoh100 Long story that requires more whiskey than I current have in my cabinets! But suffice it to say it's motivated me to stand up my own official channel and own all of my online content :)

[@EthanUslan]

a youtube classic from the golden age!

[@cyba9774]

Great performance!

[@IvanGreindl]

Un grand bravo pour votre virtuosité, M. Spitzagel 👏! Soutenir un tel tempo n'est guère à la portée de tous...

[@Spitzfire]

Merci d'avoir regardé!

[@calmnesses]

Absolutely stunning!

[@michielfenaux7598]

Everybody "knows" how to play Maple Leaf Rag. From all the videos I've seen, this is one of the few I keep playing. Martin not only knows how to play it, he masters it.

[@Spitzfire]

Thank you! I'm glad my love for MLR comes through. This was recorded in the context of a competition and I was super nervous, so the fact that people dig it makes it especially sweet :)

[@ArgoBeats]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZvFm5aohJinZ7c

[@MooPotPie]

He transcends it - using Joplin's original merely as a framework for a very clever "Harlem Stride" - type arrangement. I imagine that many early jazz pianists did something similar. A few were recorded - most were not. This is a great example of that tradition.

[@ryankurek8342]

With a flawless piece like this, how in the actual fuck do you only have 881 followers… This needs to change.

[@Spitzfire]

I appreciate that very much, Ryan! I love getting a chance to share my music and having a platform to do so, and would love if that platform were bigger!

[@BunchaFrames]

I can't remember how old I was when I was when I first heard this, but ever since this is THE version of maple leaf I always try and play!

[@Spitzfire]

I’m so glad you like it! Thanks for watching then and now!

[@jesperkragh]

I think it is my favourite ineterpretation of Maple Leaf Rag.

[@Spitzfire]

Thank you!

[@jesperkragh]

Martin, I was wondering. Is it arranged in a certain style or inspired by someone?

[@Spitzfire]

Jesper Kragh It’s an arrangement inspired by a recording of Willie “The Lion” Smith! Over the years I’ve customized it to my own style, added the repeat of the B-section to the end, etc. But there’s still a lot of The 🦁 in here 😊

[@JeroenTheBoss]

You think? You shouldn't think, but just listen and enjoy! 🤪

[@ArgoBeats]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZvFm5aohJinZ7c

[@antonioperillo1182]

Effectively an amazing way to personalize this lovely and evergreen Joplin' s masterpiece by Martin. These musical phrases obviously different from the original part and however are very well made!!! Excellent job Martin!! My best compliments to you!👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@Spitzfire]

Thank you so much! I’m glad my love of Joplin and his music shines through. 🎶

[@hotcakekivoro]

Thank you so much for saying this video. I saw it years ago and it seems its deleted but not thanks to you. Happy new year!

[@Spitzfire]

Happy New Year! Thanks for watching!

[@dominic6055]

Not my genre but he really reevocates the soul of those times and people, outstanding job!

[@Spitzfire]

Thank you! It’s my privilege 👍

[@retikulum]

Nice interpretation. Including crazy key changes. Nice 👍

[@Spitzfire]

Thanks!

[@ManuelMorales-up4mg]

What the hell is THIS? Haha, fantastic re-interpretation of an immortal classic!!

[@Spitzfire]

Thank you!

[@bigPianist99]

still my favorite!

[@Spitzfire]

Awesome!

[@juanm.aguayo-leal9795]

Bravo !!!!!!

[@willbrother9246]

A great interpretation of a classic without destroying its class and atmosphere. Very well done! I imagine it must have been rather difficult to achieve such a perfect balance.

[@Spitzfire]

Thanks so much! I remember being really nervous right before this performance, so the positive reaction to it always brings me joy.

[@mynare646]

Literally my favorite version of my favorite music of all time.

[@Spitzfire]

Yay! Thanks for this. Happy new year!

[@russellpetch1381]

Watched this several times. Great particularly with the enthusiasm about three ways through

[@Spitzfire]

Thanks! If you're not having fun playing ragtime, you're doing it wrong! :)

[@phxpndl]

Great rendition !

[@billlowe70]

Handful Of Keys from the same competition has disappeared too! I would really like to hear it again but can't find it anywhere. That old-timey sounding piano takes it to a new level! Upload and I promise I will personally view it 50 times per week

[@Spitzfire]

That is very kind, Bill! I’ll see if I can get the original uploader to send me the file.

[@angelomadonna8434]

La tua interpetraione è fantastica, non iresco ad ascoltarla meno di4, 5 volte al giorno!!!

[@Spitzfire]

La ringrazio tanto!

[@Asunatlemeilleur]

I consider this as the best one, Perfect for me

[@Spitzfire]

Thank you so much!

[@trawlins396]

I've never heard this rendition.. I like it! As an African American person it makes me so happy Joplin is still being recognized as a musical genius. He deserves a bigger place in history. And a movie about his life. Not a TV movie like the first one, a real movie from a major studio. His story is quite amazing.

[@Spitzfire]

His story *is* amazing! Loss, triumph, and a soundtrack for the ages.

[@John-cena6483]

Oh cool, when did you immigrate here?

[@LGbaSS-bi2ml]

Thank God I found this again! I had the original save to my playlist from a few years back but it disappeared. It must've gotten removed. Glad you re-uploaded it! One of the best renditions of this classic on youtube, well done Martin!

[@Spitzfire]

I'm glad you found it again! Thanks for listening!

[@kimili1989]

Very original! what I love the most about it is that you seem genuily happy to play... precious!

[@Spitzfire]

Thank you! The joy I get from this music is very real, and I am happy to play it! 😊

[@Borre972]

😮well done !

[@scivalesmusicbooks1977]

Straordinario, Martin, this is the best "Maple Leaf Rag" I know! Congrats!

[@Spitzfire]

Grazie, Riccardo!!!

[@ElenasBarre]

WOW!!!😲😲😲🙏🙏🙏 I don't know... If this is not fast, then what is??? 🤣🤣🤣 FANTASTIC Performance and technique!🥰🥰🥰

[@technicolor965]

This filled me from head to toe with joy

[@Spitzfire]

Wonderful!!! Glad to hear it 😊

[@aportexaporte]

I don't know why they removed these performances from the original channel. I remember hearing them, and then when I looked for them again I couldn't find them. There was also Adam Swanson (incredible talent). That piano so well miked and the scene so well filmed. I congratulate you for your performance and this beautiful version of Maple Leaf Rag

[@Spitzfire]

I know, it's such a bummer! Quite a few great videos got removed for what turns out to be specious reasons. Glad I was able to find/save this one, at least. Thanks for watching!

[@mydisease2you]

My favourite version of maple leaf rag. I'm so glad I found this again!

[@Spitzfire]

I'm glad you found it again, too!

[@MistahJigglah]

Every time I drink my ears are drawn here. Every, Single, Time.

[@Spitzfire]

I’m glad to be your drinking buddy!

[@erikheyn6881]

Awesome!!

[@-akdnxisl203]

This one sounded a little more jazzy. Nice interpretation!

[@Spitzfire]

Thanks! Glad you liked it!

[@GabrielA-mw4in]

The best rendition and improvisation I've heard! Well done and more importantly thank you!

[@Spitzfire]

I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@bandelafrancis1891]

000000000

[@brynnatrimble2556]

Love this! Listening to it makes me so happy!

[@Taka-Musics-Labo]

Wow!! Your performance is extremely marvelous. I'm so happy and exciting!! I appreciate your groovy performance from Japan!!

[@Spitzfire]

I’m delighted that there are folks a world away from me enjoying my music! Thank you!

[@cdllc1956]

Voll geil gespielt!

[@Spitzfire]

Danke!

[@HalValla01]

I like how you go a little out of your way and make it your own. Not a lot of people do that these days!

[@Spitzfire]

It’s part of the joy of this style of music - everyone is invited to make it their own!

[@lautarodicristofano1715]

My favourite cover of Maple leaf by far!

[@Spitzfire]

Thanks for watching!

[@2666loco]

OUTSTANDING!

[@Spitzfire]

Thank you!

[@andrewlotz3276]

Excellent stuff.

[@サチベイ]

楽しい、素敵❣️ 嫌な事みーんな忘れてしまった、 Thank you🌷

[@Spitzfire]

ありがとうございました！

[@roadchewerpe5759]

I’m watching this, and after learning a lot about the insides of pianos, I don’t see a plate in this one. Maybe it’s really short. It would be interesting if the tuning pins didn’t go through the plate. It’s not the rarest thing in the world, but now I’m intrigued.

[@Radioelectrola]

Martin, you are Wonderful!

[@Spitzfire]

Thank you so much! I'm delighted you listened and liked it (and took the time to say so!)

[@FROMME2BEV]

superb

[@ingoflamingo375]

The way you fletch that melody together with your march sounds so spicy, together with that jumping vibe. I sounds way better than both the original and most other versions i’ve heard.

[@Spitzfire]

Ingo Flamingo So glad you enjoyed it! That’s one of the joys of this genre - we are invited to add our own take on things. Thanks for watching!

[@dafanciest392]

Lovely!

[@dominic6055]

I would decrease the speed by -15% and it would be perfect

[@hjabbour]

Awesome

[@Spitzfire]

Thanks!

[@RajaSir21]

amazing version of Maple leaf Rag. so fun woow

[@Spitzfire]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching 👍

[@theforlanjoker4457]

CLEAN

[@GamerGuyMatt1892]

Absolutely stunning. Bravo 👏🏻

[@Spitzfire]

Thank you! 😊

[@ЕкатеринаВ-н9с]

Bravo!

[@Spitzfire]

Thank you!

[@Иван-д9п5м]

That would be so great if we see your great interpretation of "Hello my baby" again

[@Spitzfire]

Yeah... that one is, I think, gone for good. :( The only reason this Maple Leaf Rag video still exists is because somebody bootlegged it back in the day and I was able to find it and repost it.

[@sentry3918]

Great!!

[@mudbone7706]

Really nice! A lot of Willie The Lion in this version

[@Spitzfire]

Thanks! Willie's recording was formative for me and I'm always delighted when folks know his oeuvre well enough to pick up on what I begged/borrowed/stole for my own take :D

[@zpasjidomuzyki9390]

This is great. I love this :D

[@Spitzfire]

Thanks for watching!

[@francescobruzzese55]

Fantastico

[@Spitzfire]

Grazie!

[@PiotrBarcz]

How did this get deleted? xD I feel like KZbin would actually PREVENT this from being deleted because it's so damn good!

[@Spitzfire]

Oh gosh, it’s a story I’ll tell you offline next time we get to hang out!

[@PiotrBarcz]

@@Spitzfire Uh oh, this is gonna good xD

[@codentia___4369]

This is my favorite performance of Maple Leaf, along with Adam Swanson's. Too bad the original video got deleted. Do you know if your video of Handful of Keys played at this festival still exists anywhere? That bummed me out when that got deleted because I loved how you arranged that!

[@Spitzfire]

Thank you so much! Unfortunately I think that recording has been lost, along with the others. But I did put a similar arrangement on my album entitled, "Handful of Keys"!

[@codentia___4369]

@@Spitzfire excellent! I’ll definitely pull it up on Spotify. Thanks a ton!

[@josebarbasa3192]

I have this on loop while I cook lunch. HAHAHAHA

[@DrSid42]

There was Ragtime girl on youtube somewhere, from the same year I think. The one with Nokia tune in the beginning .. I guess it wasn't official so it was taken down ? It was such a good video though !

[@Spitzfire]

DrSid42 If it was from the same year, it was probably deleted by the user, too 😕 lots of good videos are now gone.

[@MattMcCarrin]

killin' it!

[@Spitzfire]

thanks!

[@이름-z9m6l]

Good job!!!🙂

[@Spitzfire]

Thank you!

[@JPO-jx6nr]

we will bring this back to 1,4 million views in no time :)

[@Spitzfire]

That would be amazing! :)

[@thegirthquake8574]

That walking bassline is disgusting in the best way! Fantastic work!

[@Spitzfire]

Thank you! I'm really glad you like it :D

[@PiotrBarcz]

I have been SPITZNAGELED.

[@Spitzfire]

Unfortunately there is no cure! Haha

[@PiotrBarcz]

@@Spitzfire Wow! Thanks for the reply! Really appreciate getting one when I'm just one in a million comments!

[@artkrasniqi5693]

Do you think i could learn this piece by myself also i dont have any piano experience but Im a great fiddle player !

[@РоссийскаяФедерация-б4я]

I swear there was this video with more views but I guess it got deleted

[@Spitzfire]

It had 1.4 million views, and then the Ragtime Press channel on which it was hosted deleted it under suspicious circumstances. I was/am pretty devastated about it. Thank you for finding me again, though!

[@РоссийскаяФедерация-б4я]

Martin Spitznagel - Official no problem I am a big fan of ragtime and you are pretty talented!

[@РоссийскаяФедерация-б4я]

Martin Spitznagel - Official do you know exactly why they deleted it?

[@Spitzfire]

@@РоссийскаяФедерация-б4я He deleted over 400 of his videos. I'm still in shock, and no satisfactory explanation has yet surfaced. Ugh!

[@РоссийскаяФедерация-б4я]

Martin Spitznagel - Official have you tried contacting them?

[@bencarter8324]

Man, why did the uploader delete those videos??!?!

[@Spitzfire]

I wish I had a good explanation. I really do. A lot of great videos were deleted without cause, including those by Ethan Uslan and a lot of talented kids.

[@gloriamosure9184]

Played so well: I prefer a little slower tempo, though.

[@Spitzfire]

Thank you for watching!

[@davidcavalari226]

""You know what Scott Joplin said....?" Yes. On the sheet music for this particular piece it literally says "Tempo di Marcia."

[@Spitzfire]

Bless you, yes! I’ve gotta make a video about the ragtime tempo police 😂 Hope you’re well, dude!

[@ryankurek8342]

fucking epic!

[@Spitzfire]

😁🎸

[@bos2050]

Skvelé!!!

[@robertfrost3388]

a non-standard performance (but very good)

[@Spitzfire]

Thank you! The “standard” way has been well covered by brilliant folks so all that’s left is to add our own voice to it ☺️

[@jacobschiller4486]

Let me just get this out of the way... this _is_ too fast. I am curious as to what others' definition of "fast" is, in terms of BPM. I measured this "performance" to be 126 BPM, which is classified as allegro. Allegro is defined as "FAST, QUICKLY, brightly". My preferred tempo for performing (not disrespecting) Maple Leaf Rag is 84 BPM. This fits into the "andante" tempo, which is described as walking speed. You never see people dance rags while they're sprinting around the floor.

[@Spitzfire]

Thanks for the comment! Folks feel pretty strongly about ragtime tempos, especially for the Joplin rags, so I get it. Happily, if you want to play MLR andante, ain’t no one gonna stop you. 😉

[@thememeteam7585]

Very professional response. Keep it up Martin!

[@motmot7309]

No wonder I couldn't it on KZbin!

[@Spitzfire]

I’m glad you found this version! And I finally after all these years am releasing a remastered version on streaming services - should be up in ~30 days or so. Thanks for watching!

[@AndyDufresne57]

Scott.......is you?

[@elijahbachrach6579]

I like it, but Is it still a rag? It sounds like a swing interpretation.

[@Spitzfire]

After having played this genre for a long time, my definition of a “rag” is pretty broad. Probably broader than most! But this performance is definitely inspired by later evolutions of the ragtime idea (stride, swing, etc.)

[@elijahbachrach6579]

@@Spitzfire nice!

[@bradgardner9188]

this only sounds like half maple leaf and half something else... hmm weird.

[@Spitzfire]

You're not wrong! This arrangement is inspired in part by a Willie "the Lion" Smith arrangement where I'm pretty sure Willie forgot the tune halfway through and just started making things up! Unlike Willie, though, I bring things back around for the ending. Thanks for listening!

[@jasudatamang8585]

Bruh I really need a tutorial video

[@Spitzfire]

I’m game. Anything in particular? Like how to play this piece or just ragtime in general?

[@danabellwyatt]

This piece would be great! I just bought the sheet music last month and have begun working on it, but a video tutorial or video of your hands from above would definitely help.

[@Spitzfire]

Sure! I can do that :) Stay tuned. And thanks for supporting my music!

[@lixiyuan5261]

​@@Spitzfire Hi Martin, do you have Super Mario Bros sheet music? I'm searching it for a very long time, also this version of Maple leaf is sooooooooooo good!

[@Spitzfire]

@@lixiyuan5261 Thank you! Here is the best resource I know of for video game music: www.keeper1st.com/music/vgm.html ...unfortunately I don't have a transcription of my own Mario arrangement at the moment!

[@susanhill8849]

Is that a full-sized piano or a 65-note piano?

[@Spitzfire]

It's a full-sized 88-key Weber upright from the late 19th century, lovingly referred to as "Moby Dink".

[@theforlanjoker4457]

I WANT A GO ON YANO

[@johncarcher]

I bet a player piano _couldn't_ beat you at performance at this song.

[@Spitzfire]

That'd be a fun competition!

[@johncarcher]

@@Spitzfire That would be a good video idea. You could find a pianola/player piano and first let it play, then you play, then the comments get to decide which is best!

[@ToddRobbinsnyc]

There is nothing wrong with this at all.

[@ToddRobbinsnyc]

And I like you do what Willie the Lion did and took out the upward diminished chord run in the first theme. Well done.

[@Spitzfire]

Todd Robbins The fact that you recognize Willie’s influence on this arrangement brings me an inordinate amount of joy. People get mad when it’s not there but I’m like, “Your beef is with the Lion, not me!”

[@frankhuber6878]

Scott Joplin says: not fast

[@Spitzfire]

I won’t tell him if you won’t 😉 Thanks for listening all the same!

[@born2soon]

Role back the clock 50 years, I want to learn to play piano, not Tuba!

[@noabaak]

개판.

[@TrollMeister_]

If Scott Joplin were alive he should have sued.

[@Ronald-o9x]

You obviously can't understand music, I pity you!

[@peramundsson2006]

He has great technique and speed, but ragtime pieces should be played as they were written (just like classic pieces).

[@russellwindle3847]

Too fast.

[@ingoflamingo375]

The way you fletch that melody together with your march sounds so spicy, together with that jumping vibe. I sounds way better than both the original and most other versions i’ve heard.