How did the music type "ragtime" get its name?

Question

How did the music type "ragtime" get its name?

Answer 1

it deals with metrical beats

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragtime

Answer 2

Ragtime is called ragtime because it is a modification of the then popular march, which was usually written n 2/4 or 4/4 time (meter) which a predominant left hand pattern of bass notes on odd-numbered beats and chords on even -numbered beats accompanyingng syncopateded melody in the right hand.  A composition in this style is called a "rag". A rag written in 3/4 time is a "ragtime waltz".  Ragtime is not a "time" (meter) in the same sense that march time is 2/4 meter and waltz time is 3/4 meter; it is rather a musical genre that uses an effect that can be applied to any meter.

The defining characteristic of ragtime music is a specific type of synocopation in which melodic accents occur between metrical beats.  This results in a melody that seems to be avoiding some metrical beats of the accompaniment by emphasizing notes that either anticipate or follow the beat.  The ultimate (and intended) effect on the listener is actually to accentuate the beat, thereby inducing the listener to move to the music.

Answer 3

No one really knows.  Some think it comes from the "ragged" melody line.  Or that it was first played by people in ragged cllothing and defined as "rag music" or that it was actually a type of dance.

Answer 4

In the days of recession...poorness...I would expect. 30's..40's ?