Paul Hindemith ： Suite 1922 Ragtime Op.26-5

Placed as the finale of Suite 1922, “Ragtime” takes the driving rhythm of ragtime as its starting point, drawing out Hindemith’s characteristically sharp accents and hard-edged sonorities. Overlapping short figures and changing chords create tension beneath the music’s lightness. One of its attractions lies in making the subtle rhythmic displacements and accents clear while maintaining a sense of the overall flow. In performance, avoid rushing mechanically and keep a firm inner pulse; carefully balancing the exchanges between the hands and the contrasts in dynamics brings out the music’s dry humor and forward momentum.