Paul Hindemith ： Ragtime

Hindemith’s Ragtime makes full use of the richness and interplay unique to piano four hands, centering on the lively rhythms of ragtime. Within a clear pulse, the light movement created by syncopation and displaced accents, together with changes in the strength of the sound, forms one of the work’s main attractions. In performance, the players should keep the beats precisely together while preserving a sense of elasticity rather than sounding mechanical. Accents should not be overstated; instead, they should be articulated with crispness. Carefully bringing out the rhythmic exchanges between the two parts and the overlap of their registers, while coordinating their breathing and balance of volume, allows the work’s humor and momentum to come vividly to life.