Swipesy Cake Walk (1900) - Scott Joplin & Arthur Marshall (With Score / Sheet Music)

The only published output with Joplin's name on it in 1900 was this piece co-written with his protégé, Arthur Marshall, possibly even before Maple Leaf Rag, but that is difficult to determine. Although it is labeled as a cakewalk, there is more than enough syncopation in it to consider it as a rag within itself. The A section provides contrast in the left hand, with the oom-pah pattern interrupted by repeated chords, a device later used in some Joplin trios. The B section is simple, and more cakewalk-like in nature while the trio is very much Joplin in content, and likely his largest contribution. It has a very well developed melody line and chord progression, echoing elements of Marshall's motifs in earlier sections.

The D section then reverts back to the original key, and provides a great opportunity for left hand expansion and even a little stride piano. The title was possibly contributed by publisher John Stark, who said that the boy pictured on the original cover "looked like he just swiped something." His daughter suggested that it may have also been the result of an altercation between two young black boys taking a swipe at each other outside the music store as they were thinking on a name.

As suggested by researcher Bryan Cather, the pictures of Joplin and Marshall on the original cover may be taken from a yearbook of the George R. Smith college that both had attended. The removal of their pictures from the cover coincided with the removal of Joplin's image from the Maple Leaf Rag cover, possibly motivated by the sad reality that sales in certain areas of the country might go better if the race of the composers was not as evident. With race in mind, Swipesy was soon featured on stage (at least according to an alternate cover) by the white vaudeville team of Benson and Hart.

As for the remaining covers down the years, a rare comic cover from possibly 1902 (given the Stark logo used at that time) represents the concept of the name, with a little black boy trying to swipe a bite of somebody's banana, a cover that may have simply been a St. Louis circulation, not widely distributed. The more common alternate cover went back to the original picture with a more floral design in the background to really make the work stand out on store shelfs. And lastly, the final cover of Swipesy as a re-issued piece in the 1920s would become it's final time being printed under the Stark name, featuring two dancers performing the cake walk, whom the gentlemen on the right appears to be a illustration of John Stark himself. (It is also to note the change of name during it's final printing from "Swipesy" to "Swipsy.") Through a total of 6 printed runs and 124 years later, Swipesy Cakewalk continues to fill the halls of fine establishments & Ragtime festivals to this very day, bringing the joys of Ragtime with it in every syncopated beat.
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"Swipesy Cake Walk" - Cakewalk/Piano Rag - Pattern: Intro A A B B A Trio Trio D D
Music by Scott Joplin, Published by John Stark & Son in 1900
Cover Artist(s) for All: Unknown

Music description provided & written by Bill Edwards
© 1998-2024 Bill Edwards

Music performed by Guido Nielsen with his album "Scott Joplin: The Complete Works (Rags, Marches, Waltzes & Songs)"

℗ 2000 Basta Audio-Visuals
Producer: Piet Schreuders
Music Publisher: Basta Music
Performer: Guido Nielsen

[MichaelMeyer-zsjw]

From the Blesch/Janis book on ragtime, here is the story behind 'Swipesy'. As was customary for many ragtime composers, many times the publisher gave the name to each piano piece. Scott Joplin's publisher throughout was John Starke. Now, Mr. Starke used a young shoeshine boy to shine his shoes, and had a photo made of this boy. The way the boy looked in the photo reminded Starke of a child who had just gotten caught 'swiping' some cookies from the cookie jar; thus the name "Swipesy"... Hope you enjoy this bit of ragtime history, much as I enjoy listening to, and playing "Swipesy"

[Natt_piano]

Always appreciate your fun facts & history! Thanks for publishing and sharing more knowledge 😁 love this simple tune, so fun to play

[MichaelMeyer-zsjw]

Does anyone know which part or parts in 'Swipesy' were attributed to Arthur Marshall? Seems like I read about it more than a decade ago, but just can't remember this detail. At one time, Arthur Marshall was a student of S. Joplin.