The Chrysanthemum is a ragtime piece for piano composed by Scott Joplin in 1904. This piece was dedicated to Freddie Alexander, the woman who was to soon become his second wife. Freddie who died on September 10, 1904, only ten weeks after their wedding, of complications resulting from a cold, Ragtime was very popular at the time, but it wasn't considered 'serious' music. Joplin subtitled this piece as 'an African-American intermezzo' probably in order to associate his music to the classical styles. A standard performance of this piece lasts about 5 minutes.
