Black American Sheet Music Collection
The Bank of America Black American Sheet Music Collection consists of approximately 4000 pieces of published sheet music reflecting the influences of African Americans on popular music in the United States. The music was created by, performed by, published by, or portrays Black and African American themes throughout the 19th and 20th centuries in the United States. The collection highlights popular vocal music, jazz, big band, and swing music published in the United States. The earliest piece in the collection dates to 1818, and the latest editions date into the 1980s, thereby giving a chronicle of the evolution of Black-inspired music in America for almost 200 years. Some imagery and lyrics in this collection reflect harmful racist depictions of Black people and are included in the collections for their use in academic research.
Content Warning:
USF Libraries’ Digital Collections include historical and primary sources from many cultures and time periods. Some content may be harmful, graphic, difficult to view, or reflect biases. Digital Collections provides access to these materials to preserve the historical record, but we do not endorse the attitudes, prejudices, or behaviors found within them. USF Libraries’ is committed to conscious editing of Libraries’ generated descriptive terminology that may be offensive, harmful, or out of date.
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Mah Moonlight Lou
Herbert Dillea, C. J. Campbell, and Ralph M. Skinner
Dedicated to our esteemed friend Mr. Edgar Richards.
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Ma Little Sun Flow'r—Good-Night!
Frederick W. Vanderpool and Louis Weslyn
Dedicated to Princess Tsianina.
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Ma Mississippi Belle, 1900
John Rosamond Johnson, Robert Allen Cole, and James Weldon Johnson
Robert Allen Cole was a Black lyricist. John Rosamond Johnson was a Black composer. Cole wrote the words alongside Johnson's brother James Weldon Johnson, a Black American writer and civil rights activist.
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Ma Mississippi Belle, 1903
John Rosamond Johnson and Bob Cole
Robert Allen Cole was a Black lyricist. John Rosamond Johnson was a Black composer.
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Mammy's Little Sunny Honey Boy
Jack Caddigan and Chick Story
Full score. "That Delightful Croony Lullaby." The name Chester E. Frost is stamped on the front.
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Mandy Lou
Frederick Hall and Paul Laurence Dunbar
Words by Paul Laurence Dunbar. Music by Frederick Hall.
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Mandy, Won't You Let Me be Your Beau?
John Rosamond Johnson and Robert Allen Cole
Robert Allen Cole was a Black lyricist. John Rosamond Johnson was a Black composer.
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Maori: A Samoan Song
William H. Tyers and Henry S. Creamer
Adapted from the instrumental number Maori A Samoan Dance.
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Marie Cahill's Congo Love Song, A
John Rosamond Johnson, James Weldon Johnson, John Frew, and Bob Cole
James Weldon Johnson was a Black writer. John Rosamond Johnson was a Black composer.
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Marie Cahill's Congo Love Song, B
John Rosamond Johnson, Robert Allen Cole, and James Weldon Johnson
Robert Allen Cole was a Black lyricist. John Rosamond Johnson was a Black composer. Cole wrote the words alongside Johnson's brother James Weldon Johnson, a Black American writer and civil rights activist.
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Mary Blane Polka
Henry Chadwick
Circa 1850. Arranged for the piano and dedicated to Miss Margaretta T. Hinman.
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Massa's in the Cold Ground (Transcription)
Eduard Holst
Transcription for the piano. The name Karen M. Young, 1906 is written in the margin on the first page.
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Mexico
John Rosamond Johnson, Robert Allen Cole, and James Weldon Johnson
From vocal and instrumental numbers in Humpty Dumpty. Robert Allen Cole was a Black lyricist. John Rosamond Johnson was a Black composer. Cole wrote the words alongside Johnson's brother James Weldon Johnson, a Black American writer and civil rights activist.
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Mighty Lak' a Rose (High Voice)
Ethelbert Nevin and Frank L. Stanton
The name Florence Brown is written in the margin on the front page.
