Jean-Pierre Rampal Plays Scott Joplin

Released in 1986 on the CBS Masterworks label, this recording features the renowned French flutist Jean-Pierre Rampal interpreting the ragtime compositions of Scott Joplin. The project emerged during a period of sustained interest in the 'Joplin revival,' which had been sparked a decade earlier by the use of his music in the film The Sting. Rampal, a classical virtuoso known for expanding the flute repertoire, brought his characteristic technical precision and bright tone to these arrangements, bridging the gap between turn-of-the-century American popular music and the classical concert tradition.

The album was arranged and orchestrated to highlight the flute as a melodic voice, often supported by light rhythmic accompaniment that sought to capture the syncopated charm of the original piano rags. Produced during Rampal's prolific era with CBS, the record was intended to showcase the versatility of the flute in a genre typically dominated by keyboard performance. While traditionalists sometimes debated the stylistic marriage of ragtime and classical flute technique, the recording was well-received by audiences who appreciated Rampal’s lyrical phrasing and his success in introducing Joplin's sophisticated harmonies to a broader classical-leaning demographic.