Lot 189
Boston : John F. Perry & Co., 1879. land (1854-1911) was one of the greatest and most popular of the African-American composers of the 19th century who made full use of their own heritage. He wrote over 700 songs, some of which have entered the mainstream of American folk music. Very RARE, few copies in institutions; 3 pieces of Bland's sheet music including this sold for a total of $2750 at Swann in 2017. Prominent black minstrel songwriter and banjo player James A. Bland, of Sprague's Georgia Minstrels, wrote "Oh, Dem Golden Slippers" in 1879. It was a mockery of "Golden Slippers," a spiritual sung by the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Bland's parody surpassed the Fisk song in popularity and is now known only as "Golden Slippers." The melody later passed from the minstrel stage into folk song and fiddle tune traditions. It is also the unofficial theme song of the Mummers Parade held each New Year's Day in Philadelphia. Oh, Dem Golden Slippers, the unofficial theme song of the Philadelphia Mummers Parade, is both an enduringly popular song and a revealing example of the complex, multilayered interplay between Black and white music in America. Written by African American songwriter James Bland (18541911) as a parody of a Negro spiritual, Oh, Dem Golden Slippers, published in 1879, enjoyed great popularity as a blackface minstrel song. It later became a staple of two very different, predominantly white, American musical traditions: bluegrass and the Philadelphia Mummers. James Bland was born in Flushing, New York, to a free, fairly well-to-do African American family. The family lived in Philadelphia for a while when James was young and it was here that he purportedly first fell in love with the banjo after hearing an elderly Black street musician playing one. After the Civil War the family moved to Washington, D.C., where James attended Howard University for a time before pursuing a career as an entertainer. In addition to enjoying great success as a minstrel performer, Bland was a prolific songwriter. Of the hundreds of songs he is reported to have written, only a few dozen have survived, including several that he wrote in a short creative burst in the late 1870s and early 1880s that were hit songs at the time and later became standards in American folk and popular music. These include Carry Me Back to Old Virginny, In the Morning by the Bright Light, and Oh, Dem Golden Slippers. Please ask specific questions on details, condition, and shipping prior to bidding, ALL ITEMS ARE SOLD AS IS, and the bidder will be responsible for payment. We box and ship what we can to keep costs low, and use USPS and UPS. Large items, extremely fragile, and high value items will be packed by UPS. Quotes available on request
- Dimensions: 10.5" x 14"
- Condition: Very Good - Excellent Condition
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $49 | $5 |
| $50 | $99 | $5 |
| $100 | $199 | $10 |
| $200 | $499 | $25 |
| $500 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $2,999 | $100 |
| $3,000 + | $250 |