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It is a multi-strain ragtime march with athletic bass lines and upbeat melodies. Each of the four parts features a recurring theme and, always, a jumpy left hand with a lot of seventh chords.

It is more carefully constructed than almost all previous ragtime tunes, and the syncopations, especially in the transition between the first and second strain, were arrestingly novel at the time.

While not an extremely difficult piece rhythmically or musically, one must have a decent command of your left arm in order to perform this piece successfully--especially the third section. When it was first published it was considered significantly more difficult than the average Tin Pan Alley and early ragtime sheet music common at the time.

The tune became a huge hit, in addition to sales of sheet music, it was also popular in orchestrations for dance bands and brass bands for years.

The tune continued to be in the repertory of jazz bands decades later, with such artists the New Orleans Rhythm Kings in the 1920s Sidney Bechet in the 1940sCenturies: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s Years: 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 Events and trends Technology First nuclear bomb First cruise missile, the giving it treatments up-to-date for the time.

The Maple Leaf Rag is still a favorite of ragtime pianistThis article deals with those who play the piano. For other uses, see pianist (disambiguation). A pianist is a person who plays the piano reasonably well. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an orchestra or smaller ensemble, or accoms.