Martin Spitznagel is an American old-time pianist known for his clean and fast stride piano arrangements.
Spitznagel's career began at the age 14, when he won Calliope Media's "Crazy For Ragtime" competition in 1996 and 1997. He took home the grand prize, which was a
Yamaha Disklavier
Disklavier is a brand of reproducing pianos manufactured by Yamaha Corporation. The first Disklavier was introduced in the United States in 1987.
The typical Disklavier is a real acoustic piano outfitted with electronic sensors for recording and ...
Upright Piano
A piano is a keyboard instrument that produces sound when its keys are depressed, activating an action mechanism where hammers strike strings. Modern pianos have a row of 88 black and white keys, tuned to a chromatic scale in equal temper ...
, and he has continued to play ragtime and old-time piano music professionally every since.
Career
Since the beginning of Martin Spitznagel's career in 1997, he has been very successful in the world of professional old-time piano. In 2007, he won the New Rag Contest of the
World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest for his composition entitled: "The Red Elephant Rag." In 2010, he won the Scott Joplin Composition Contest for his original composition, "The Train Town Rag," in honor of the town of
Sedalia, Missouri
Sedalia is a city located approximately south of the Missouri River and, as the county seat of Pettis County, Missouri, Pettis County, Missouri, United States, it is the principal city of the Sedalia Micropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 ...
.
In 2011, he won the Regular Division and again New Rag Contest of the
World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest in
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria ( ) is a city in Peoria County, Illinois, United States, and its county seat. Located on the Illinois River, the city had a population of 113,150 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Ill ...
.
He won the New Rag Contest of the
World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest for his original composition, "The Smoky Rose." In 2017, he once again won the New Rag Contest of the
World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest for his original piece, "Dreams of Irene." In 2021, he won the composition contest "To The Max," in honor of renowned ragtime pianist
Max Morath
Max Edward Morath (October 1, 1926 – June 19, 2023) was an American ragtime pianist, composer, actor, and author. He was best known for his piano playing and is referred to as "Mr. Ragtime". He was a touring performer as well as being various ...
.
In addition to all of these awards, he has played with many popular ragtime pianists including: Brian Holland,
Adam Swanson
Adam G. Swanson is an American Ragtime and Old-Time Music Pianist. He is known for his fast, energetic, and enthusiastic approach to playing ragtime.
Swanson's career in ragtime piano began in 2003, when he won the junior division of the World ...
, and many more.
Albums
References
External links
* https://www.martinspitznagel.com/bio.html (Martin Spitznagel's Official Website)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spitznagel, Martin
1982 births
Living people
American pianists