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is committed to conscious editing of Libraries’ generated descriptive terminology that may be offensive, harmful, or out of date.
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Ethiopian Quadrilles, Sett 4
A. Nagerj Onyqjva
Twelfth Edition. Sett 4 includes: "Mary Blane"; "Lucy Neal"; "Stop Dat Knocking"; "Carry Me Back to Old Virginy"; "Rosa Lee"
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Ethiopian Song without Words
L. D. Broughton
The score for "Ethiopian Song (Without Words) by L.D. Broughton.
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Everybody Twostep, 1911
Wallie Herzer
The score for "Everybody Twostep" by Wallie Herzer. The Columbia recording of the composition was the first recording of ragtime music.
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Everybody Two-Step, 1912
Wallie Herzer and Earl C. Jones
As sung by Miss Nellie Beaumont in "A Lucky Hoodoo." The Columbia recording of the composition was the first recording of ragtime music.
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Ev'rybody Loves to Dance
Doc Cooke and H. Alf Kelley
A piano and vocal score for "Ev'rybody Loves to Dance," with music and lyrics by Charles L. Cooke, "Doc Cook," a Black lyricist, and H. Alf Kelley.
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Ev'ry Day
Shelton Brooks and W. R. Williams
The score for "Ev'ry Day," composed by Canadian-born Black composer, Shelton Brooks, and lyrics by W.R. Williams.
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Exhortation
Will Marion Cook and Alex Rogers
The score for "Exhortation" with music by Will Marion Cook, a Black American composer, violinist, and choral director, and lyrics by Alex Rogers.
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Farewell My Lilly Dear
Stephen Collins Foster
A plantation melody as sung by Christy's Minstrels. Composed for piano and guitar by Stephen Foster Collins.
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Father Don't Drink Any Now!
Frank Howard
The score to "Father Don't Drink Any Now!" with lyrics and music by Frank Howard.
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Few Days, Few Days
Albert Holland
The score for "Few Days, Few Days," arranged and adapted by Albert Hollan and sung by Christy's Minstrels.
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Flora Lyle
M. Keller and Peter F. Stout
The score for "Flora Lyle" with music by M. Keller and lyrics by Peter F. Stout. The song was sung by Rollin Howard at Bryant's Minstrels.
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Four Little Blackberries
Lawrence B. O'Connor
The score for "Four Little Blackberries," a schottische in the key D major by Lawrence B. O'Connor.
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Four Little Sugar Plums
Lawrence B. O'Connor
The score for "Four Little Sugar Plums," a schottische and barn dance by Lawrence B. O'Connor. Dedicated to Mr. Roy W. Simpson in Bangor, Maine.
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George White's Scandals
George Gard DeSylva, Lew Brown, and Ray Henderson
Black Bottom Eighth Annual Edition. Comedy scenes by George White and William K. Wells. Lyrics by B.G. de Sylva and Lew Brown. Staged by George White. Music by Ray Henderson.
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Ginger Snaps
Egbert Van Alstyne
The score for orchestra, band, mandolin, and guitar for "Ginger Snaps" by Egbert Van Alstyne.
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Give Me Your Hand, Old Friend of Youth
John Pond Ordway
Song and chorus as performed by Ordway's Aeolians with the music and lyrics by John P. Ordway.
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Going Home!
John Pond Ordway
The score for "Going Home!" with music and lyrics by John P. Ordway. The song is a companion to "Home Delights." Dedicated to Mrs. E.C. Huntley, Nashville, Tennessee.
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Good-Bye Boys
Harry Von Tilzer, Andrew B. Sterling, and William Jerome
The score for "Good-Bye Boys," with music by Harry Von Tilzer and lyrics by Andrew B. Sterlin and William Jerome. Introduced by Al Jolson in the Winter Garden production "The Honeymoon Express." Dedicated to Edwin A. Starn.
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Go Take a Long Walk and Don't Come Back
Eddie Munson and Fred Clark
The piano and vocal score for "Go Take a Long Walk and Don't Come Back" with lyrics by Fred Clark and music by Eddie Munson.
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Go to Sleep, My Dusky Baby
Frank R. Rix
The score for "Go to Sleep, My Dusky Baby" adapted from Antonin Dvorak's "Humoreske" by Frank R. Rix.
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Grace and Beauty
James Sylvester Scott
The score for "Grace and Beauty" by James Scott, Black American ragtime composer and pianist.
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Gypsy Blues
Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake
A full score for the songs "Love Will Find a Way" and "Gypsy Blues." The music was by Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle.
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Halifax Rag
H. D. Carter and Cyrus S. Mallard
The score for "Halifax Rag" by H.D. Carter and arranged by Cyrus S. Mallard.
