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Music Faculty Publications School of Music

1997

“Research Report”. Review of The Music and Scripts of "," Music of the of America, Vol. 5.

Marva Carter Georgia State University, [email protected]

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Recommended Citation Carter, Marva Griffin. 1997. “Research Report”. Review of The Music and Scripts of "in Dahomey," Music of the United States of America, Vol. 5. The Choral Journal 38 (1). American Choral Directors Association: 41–41.

This Review is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Music at ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Music Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Research report

Christine D. de Catanzaro, editor

The Prowse of a Editor's Note: This month's guest writer, any other of its kind. Keith, challenge presenting palatable to white audiences while Marva Griffin Carter, is Assistant and Company piano-vocal score (pub- image of the work's London an to black Professor of Music History and Literature lished as a result making explicit appeal serves as the to which xxxiv). at Georgia State University, Atlanta, tour) centerpiece pride (p. numbers are added. This edi Georgia. She is currently writing a interpolated tion the music and used This is Cook's most and musical biography of presents scripts song performed from which a recorded for Oxford University Press. in various performances, composition, be mounted. The value of this edition is enhanced modern performance could of such There are choral numbers, solo songs, by Riis's inclusion interpolated But I Ain't No Thomas L. Riis, editor and instrumental dance numbers that are songs as "I May Be Crazy, ' modern Fool" and the well-known "I'm a The Music and Scripts of "In Dahomey, still interesting to ears, including Jonah both written Alex and Music of the United States ofAmerica, Vol 5 "Caboceers Entrance," "Swing Along," Man," by Rogers as well as "I Madison, Wisconsin: A-R Editions, Inc., "Society," "On Emancipation Day," and performed by , Wants to Be a Actor Von 1996. 245 pp., $128. ISBN: 0-89579 "Brown-Skin Baby Mine." They range Lady" by Harry to choral Tilzer with Vincent 342-3 (paperback only) from syncopated ragtime songs lyrics by Bryan, the is a rare orches operatic ensembles. Among appendixes tration of the "On of Broadway's landmark Most of the songs conform to turn-of- two-step Emancipa tion which was used as musical comedies, In Dahomey the-centuryTin Pan Alley styles, although Day" by Cook, exhibits novel from these the finale to the musical, ONE has been masterfully edited b> Cook expansions cake-walking of In Thomas L. Riis in the fifthvolume of Musii norms. Educated at conservatories in Ober- The songs and scripts Dahomey New to about in the United States ofAmerica. The MUST5 lin, Berlin (with ), and attempt convey positive messages edition! Antonín Cook blackness that are free of the series of forty projected scholarly York (with Dvorák), brings degrading racial of was established in 1988 by the Americar his training to bear on these compositions. stereotypes minstrelsy. Although in order to In "Caboceers Entrance," with the and are occasionally Musicological Society represen lyrics by dialogue lyrics ethnic hu notable achievements and to reflect the di , Cook begins with marked by turn-of-the-century mu shifts to mor, the music of In transcends verse character and shape of American pseudo-African effects, ragtime Dahomey with a chorale-like both time and race. This edition deserves sic-making. Previous editions have includec style, and culminates finish.The to be included in school's the compositions of Ruth Crawford, Irvinj operatic opening chorus, "Swing every library. at Marva Carter Berlin, Amy Beach, and Daniel Read. Along," illustratesCook's skills composi- Griffin fon-vm/l State\+si +0 T fw1HÛYC1 P\> This latest edition features the firstfull tional synthesis. Riis astutely notes: Georgia University a Atlanta, length black musical comedy presented Georgia It a the chief merit is the a major . opened Perhaps song's the dual the New York Theatre on February 18 way it deftly negotiates -CI

1903, and ran for fifty-three performances talents of com In Dahomey showcased the Visit our website at: unvw.berkey.comwww.berkey.com Will Marion com poser-conductor Cook, an* poser-lyricist Alex Rogers, scriptwriter and comedi stage manager, Jesse Shipp, THE CHORALOMUL WORKS Of I ans Bert Williams and George Walker.

was performed more than one thousan* times to biracial national and internationa JACKSON BERKEY audiences between 1902 and 1905. The of In features tw all "NEWISSUE" plot Dahomey They'reall''NEWISSUE" to re cunning detectives who attempt until you Wve seen them! cover a lost heirloom for profit. Thei involves a coloniza quest coincidentally tion society's desire to settle in Dahome; SDG PRESS for the music The historical context www.hcrki'.t.com an scripts, versions, performance style, (954) 563-1844 has been exhau: Telephone recordings investigated FAX(954) 563-9006 Riis in an tively by introductory essay. 170 N.E. 33rd St. Ft Lauderdale, FL 33334 This show has more extant music tha

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