[Collection of Sheet Music by Francis Johnson, Celebrated Antebellum Black Composer].
Collection of three rare pieces of sheet music by celebrated African American composer Francis (Frank) Johnson (1792–1844).
Freeborn in Philadelphia, Johnson was a skilled violin, trumpet and bugle player. In 1837, at the time of Queen Victoria’s coronation, Johnson toured Europe and played a command performance for the young queen. She presented him with a silver bugle. Johnson’s Victoria Gallop, seen below, appeared in 1839 after he returned to Philadelphia.
“Johnson was the first African American to publish sheet music, the first black musician and arguably the first American musician to tour Europe with a band, and one of the first musicians to participate in integrated public concerts. He mentored a number of successful black musicians, and scholars credit him as the leader the Philadelphia School of composers—arguably the first such group in the United States.” (ANB)
1. Johnson’s Favorite Quick March. Philadelphia: Published by G.E. Blake, n.d. .
p. Small Folio. Bifolium; disbound, removed. On the opposite, conjoined leaf is C.M. De Weber’s March in the Melo Drama Der Freischütz, p, also published by Blake. Minor loss at lower corners; some offsetting; very good. Not in OCLC, though there appear to be 2 copies at NYPL.¹
2. The Citizen’s Quadrilles, in which are Introduced the Ravel’s Ladder Dance, The Air in the Bedouins and Checkini’s Dance in The Maid of Cashmere. Philadelphia: Fiot, Meignen & Co., (1837).
, 2–5, [6 (blank)]pp. Folio. Bifolium with tipped-in center leaf; disbound, removed. “Composed and arranged for the Piano Forte.” Some toning at edges; some foxing on final page; very good. OCLC: 1 copy at Biblio et Archives Nat du Québec.
3. Johnson’s Celebrated Victoria Gallop. As performed at his Concerts in London and the United States. Respectfully Dedicated to Mrs. J. Hall Bready. Philadelphia: Ld. Meignen & Co., (1839).
pp. Folio. Bifolium; disbound, removed. Some foxing and light staining in margins. OCLC: 2 copies: U. Michigan and Yale. LCP reports a copy from the same year, though with a different imprint.
Description: [Collection of Sheet Music by Francis Johnson, Celebrated Antebellum Black Composer].
Note. 1. Early American Secular Music and Its European Sources, 1589-1839: Name Index: BLA accessed online. See also Wolfe I:451-455.