Little Black Baby (Scott Joplin, 1903) [SJ22]

Details

Description

Scott Joplin - Little Black Baby

Style: Song
Year: 1903
Form: Intro Vs1 Ch1 Vs2 Ch2
Keys: Bb
Notes: Lyrics by Louise Armstrong Bristol

"Mrs. Bristol was a poet living in the Chicago area. How she got hooked up with Joplin is unknown or unverified, but it may have been a recommendation by a publisher or a mutual friend. Speculation may lead one to believe that somebody in the chain though a black composer would do more justice to the lyrical content of the piece, or simply give it some credence. Thus Joplin would have made a very good choice among other composers that were available. His name recognition was likely not a factor since he is not even mentioned on the cover, although he received musical credit inside. This could also cast Joplin more in the role of an arranger for a tune that Mrs. Bristol submitted rather than its sole composer. It is a simple non-syncopated melody that seemed destined for home consumption, and comes across as a lullaby sung by a mammy to her little child. In spite of the use of Afro-dialect (and typical baby talk), the lyrics are a far cry from the offensive coon songs of the time. This song has been a surprising favorite of many who first heard it as I did on Dick Zimmerman's volume of Joplin works." (from ragpiano.com)

-------

🎹 Piano: Kawai CN33
📷 Camera: Samsung Galaxy A52

☕️ Buy me a Coffee == https://buymeacoff.ee/danielsthings
🙏 Donate on PayPal == https://paypal.me/danielsthings

#ragtime #scottjoplin