Representations of Blackness in Music of the United States (1830s-1920s)

<p>This collection is a grouping of over 1,400 items dating from the 1830s to the 1920s. The contents of the collection depict representations of Black diasporic people and cultures through close to a century of illustrations and musical and lyrical compositions found in sheet music publications. The collection depicts representations of Blackness during an era dominated by the sheet music publishing industry and prior to the recording industry’s eventual domination over the commercial market which began in the 1920s.</p> <p>While white-dominant representations of Blackness span the majority of years of this collection, representations of Black diasporic peoples by Black performers and composers date to as early as the 1870s with the formation of the first African American Blackface performers and minstrel troupes, and become increasingly visible by the 1890s during the beginnings of African American musical theater. The collection ends with works that point to the age of jazz, commercial blues, and African American musical theater of the 1920s. However, popular musical representations of Blackness continued to proliferate well beyond the dates spanning this collection, up to and including our popular music and media of today.</p> <p>For additional information, context, and historical essays about the music in this collection please see the website created by the Brown University Library's Center for Digital Scholarship: <a href="https://library.brown.edu/cds/sheetmusic/afam/">African American Sheet Music</a></p> <p>For questions about this collection, or other materials in the John Hay Library, contact hay@brown.edu.</p>
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Items in this collection

My Dixie land daisy

My Dixie land daisy

Brown University

words & music by Max Hoffmann For voice and piano "The song success of Ned. Wayburn's Minstrel Misses" "As featured nightly ... at the New York Theatre Roof Garden" Title page illustration: daisies; photo. of Ned. Wayburn's Minstrel Misses in blackface Advertisements for: "Star dance folio" on p. [2]; 11 popular folios on p. [6]

My Black Lou

My Black Lou

Brown University

arr. by George Lowell Tracy; words and music by C.E. Billings For voice and piano Caption title "To Horace C. Pratt"--Cover Cover illustration: drawing of an Afro-American woman

Mr. Johnson, don't get gay!

words & music by Dave Reed. March for voice and piano Cover title At head of title: A bit of real coon sarcasm Sung by: Freddie Reed Advertisements for other songs: p. [2-5] Advertisement for "Euphonic varsoviana" and other songs: p. [6] Cover illustration: photograph of Freddie Reed; floral border design, printed in orange ink

Moses cart dem melon down:: song and chorus

by Dan Lewis For voice, piano, and chorus (SATB) Caption title Cover illustration: lithograph portrait of Dan Lewis; design with scenes showing Afro-Americans, inspired by three different songs "Chas. H. Crosby lith., Boston"--Cover

Molly Green

Molly Green

Brown University

For voice and piano Words, Paul Laurence Dunbar; music, Will Marion Cook Cover features portraits of Bert Williams, and Geo. Walker.

Mister melody man

Mister melody man

Brown University

words & music by George L. Cobb For voice and piano Caption title Featured by Heinz & Cla Velle Advertisement for other songs: p. [6] Cover illustration: photograph of Heinz & Cla Velle; drawing of woman listening to a man playing the piano, with Afro-American waiter in background

Mistah Moonshine:: a silhouette

lyric by Adam Breede; music by Charles S. Burnham For voice and piano, in key of A minor Caption title Advertisements for other songs: p. [2, 5-6]

Miss Julia is a handsome gal

words and music by L.V.H. Crosby. For voice, piano, and chorus (SSTB) Caption title. Additional verses: p. 5. Cover illustration: lithograph of the Harmoneons, with portraits of Js. Power as Toney, M.S. Pike as Fanny, L.V.H. Crosby as Pomp, F. Lynch as Gumbo, and Jno. [sic] Power as Sambo / W. Sharp. "W. Sharp & Co. lith."--Cover.

Meet me in de lane:: from a "Copper complication"

words by Rebecca L. Hooper; music by Mabel W. Daniels For voice and piano Cover title From musical: Copper complication Cover illustration: drawing of Black couple holding hands / Geo. H. Walker & Co., Boston Library's copy inscribed: B.C. Reed

May Irwin's "bully" song

words and music by Charles E. Trevathan For voice and piano Caption title Sung by: May Irwin in "The widow Jones" Additional verse: p. 5 Advertisement for other songs: p. [6] Cover illustration: drawing of Afro-American man; photograph of May Irwin

Mandy Lou

Mandy Lou

Brown University

words and music by Thos. S. Allen For voice and piano Cover title Advertisement for "Scented roses": p. [2] Cover illustration: photograph of unidentified woman harpist / White, N.Y.; drawing of Afro-American couple and magnolias / Starmer Advertisement for "Pitter patter rag": cops. 2-3, p. [6] Cover photograph: cop. 3, Carrie Starr of Neff & Starr

Mamie! Come kiss your honey boy

words and music by May Irwin For voice and piano Caption title "A new Negro Melody ... Plantation Song"--Cover Sung by May Irwin in "A country sport" Advertisements for other music: p. [2]-3, 5-[6] Cover illustration: photograph of May Irwin Also published as Schottische and march--two step

Ma Susie Anna

Ma Susie Anna

Brown University

words and music by Jimmy Dewey For voice and piano Cover title "Musical supplement of the Sunday Examiner"--Cover As sung by: Violet Dale and Chas. Barrington Cover illustration: photographs of Violet Dale and James Dewey; drawing of red and white birds on yellow background

Lucy Neale: a celebrated Negro melody

adapted & arranged for the piano forte by Charles Von Bonnhorst. For voice and piano. Caption title. Attributed to James Sanford in: Variety music cavalcade / Julius Mattfeld. Verses 2-8 printed on p. [2]

Lucille, ma lady love:: darkey love song

by Theo. F. Morse & Bob Cole For voice and piano Caption title Dedicated to: ma lady love "By Bob Cole & Theo F. Morse"--Cover "Masonic Temple, Chicago"--Cover and p. [2] Advertisements for other music: p. [2, 6] Cover illustration: paisley design / HC; photograph of unidentified woman. Library's copy inscribed: E.A. Young

Lubly Fan will you cum out to night?

composed by Cool White. For voice and piano. Caption title. Sung by: Carter and the Virginia Serenaders. Additional verses: p. 3. Cover illustration: lithograph of Afro-American man playing banjo.

Long time ago: a favorite comic song and chorus

written and arranged with symphonies and accompaniments for the piano forte by William Clifton. For voice, 3-part chorus and piano. Caption title. Verses 2-13 printed on p. [5] Cover illustration: lithograph of Afro-American man holding rifle / Obi. "Lith. of Endicott"--Cover.

Long tail blue

Long tail blue

Brown University

as sung at the theatres. For voice and piano. Caption title. "Long Tail Blue, ca. 1827 ... was the first song of the Negro dandy."--Series of old American songs / Brown Univ. Library, no. 14. Cover illustration: lithograph of Afro-American dandy in long-tail coat facing right. "Lith. of Endicott"--Cover.

Liza, I'se your man

Liza, I'se your man

Brown University

words and music by Jas. R. Homer For voice and piano Caption title Sung by: M. Edith White Dedicated to: John Hancock Wills Advertisements for other songs: p. [2-6] Cover illustration: drawing of Afro-American man and woman

Liza loves you

Liza loves you

Brown University

words and music by Chas. H. Sheffer of Lester & Allen's Big Minstrels, as sung in all the principal theatres of the country in their latest production entitled "The wrong girl" For voice and piano Cover title At head of title: Sheffer & Blakely's latest success Advertisements for other music: cover and p. [6]

Little Topsy's song

Little Topsy's song

Brown University

words by Eliza Cook; music by Asa B. Hutchinson For voice, piano, and men's chorus Caption title Sung by: the Hutchinson Family Dedicated to: Mother Text refers to characters in "Uncle Tom's cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe Cover illustration: floral border design "Greene Eng."--Cover

Little Sam:: a new and popular Negro song and chorus

written and composed by Will. S. Hays For voice, 4-part chorus, and piano Cover title "As sung by all the best minstrel troupes"--Cover Dedicated "To my friend"--Cover Advertisement for other music: p. [6] Cover illustration: lithograph of Black boy marching. Cover printed by Ehrgott, Forbrier & Co., lith., Cincinnati

Little Sam

Little Sam

Brown University

words and music by Will S. Hays For voice, 4-part chorus, and piano Caption title Advertisements for other music: p. [1-2], [42]

Little more cider:: a favorite song

written by Austin Hart For voice and piano, with 4-part chorus Cover title "Arranged for the pianoforte."--Caption, p. 3 Cover engraved by Greene Also published for voice and guitar Library's cop. 1 has price, "25 cents net" in lower right corner of cover

Little more cider:: a favorite song

written by Austin Hart;[arranged for the guitar by Converse.] For voice and guitar Cover title Cover engraved by Greene Also published for voice and piano Library's copy has retailer's stamp on cover: Amsden & Cangill, Music & Fancy Bezaar, 137 Jefferson Ave., Detroit

Little Eva's vision

Little Eva's vision

Brown University

words by Sidney Dyer; arranged by H. Vasouver For voice and piano Caption title Arranger's name appears as Henri Vasouver on cover Also published for: voice and guitar