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is committed to conscious editing of Libraries’ generated descriptive terminology that may be offensive, harmful, or out of date.
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Happy Days in Georgia
Charles H. Kuebler
Cake Walk and Two Step. Published for two Mandolins and Guitar, Banjo Solo, Band and Orchestra.
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Happy Haidee
Thomas Coates and Marshall S. Pike
Dedicated to Mrs. John B. Donniker of New York. As originally sung by J. Murphy of Christy's Minstrels.
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Happy Hours in Coontown
Charles B. Brown
Cake Walk Two-Step March. Dedicated to Mr. Monroe H. Rosenfeld.
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Happy Hunting Grounds
Henry S. Sawyer
"Indian March and Two-Step." The name Ethel E. Black is written on the cover in the top margins.
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Hark! I Hear an Angel Sing, A
R. G. Shrival and W. C. B.
Ballad as sung by Mr. John Farrenberg of West. Peels & Campbell Minstrels. Composed and respectfully dedicated to Mrs. James Gardner Jr. of Augusta, GA.
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Hark! I Hear an Angel Sing, B
R. G. Shrival and W. C. B.
Ballad as sung by Mr. John Farrenberg of West. Peels & Campbell Minstrels. Composed and respectfully dedicated to Mrs. James Gardner Jr. of Augusta, GA.
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He's a Cousin of Mine
Cecil Mack, Christopher M. Smith, and Silvio Hein
Featured in Daniel V. Arthur's production of "Marrying Mary." Cecil Mack (R.C. McPherson) was a Black entertainer, and Christopher M. Smith was a Black composer and popular vaudeville performer.
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Hither We Come
Max Zorer
As sung at Christy's Opera Comique. Arranged from Balfes Opera "The Enchantress."
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Hobomoko
Ernest Reeves
Arranged by Adolf Lotter. The name Ethel Black is written on the cover in the margins.
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Home Again, A
John Pond Ordway and Marshall S. Pike
Sung with rapturous applause by the Harmoneons. Dedicated most affectionately to Lizzie C. Oakes of Charleston, South Carolina.
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Home Again, B
John Pond Ordway and Marshall S. Pike
Sung with rapturous applause by the Harmoneons. Dedicated most affectionately to Lizzie C. Oakes of Charleston, South Carolina.
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Home Delights
John Pond Ordway
As performed by Ordway's Aeolians of Boston; Wood's Minstrels; also Geo. Christy & Wood's Minstrels New York. To Mrs. Henry Wood.
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Honky Tonky
Charles Russell McCarron and Christopher M. Smith
One Step. Christopher M. Smith was a Black composer and popular vaudeville performer.
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How Long the Hours Seem, Love!
Henry Wood and P. B. Isaacs
As sung by Mr. C. Henry of Wood's Minstrels.
