Will Accooe

Willis J. Accooe (in various sources he is incorrectly referred to as William; * 1874 in Winchester , Virginia , United States ; † April 26, 1904 in New York City , New York , United States) was an American pianist, organist, Songwriter and conductor. He was one of the pioneers in the early development of the Black Musical in the 1890s and early 1900s.

Life

Will Accooe's parents were the Methodist clergyman John Harris Accooe (1852-1920) and his wife Anna (1852-1920). Since the Reverend Accoe never worked in one place for long, Will Accoe did not receive a continuous education. He always had access to pianos and organs, to which he was drawn from an early age. He often received lessons on these instruments from the local church musicians. He also attended the Princess Ann Academy in Maryland. He soon became an organist himself at the Zoar Methodist Episcopal Church and in various other churches in Philadelphia that were looked after by his father. It was at this time that he began to compose. In the early 1890s he met Carl Mint (1858-1902), the director of the Conservatory on Walnut Street in Philadelphia. This enabled him to attend the conservatory and to close the gaps in his musical knowledge and to optimize his technique in playing the keyboard instruments. His goal was a position as organist on one of the great organs in New York. But since he was always rejected on several application attempts, he turned away from church music and turned to the theater. On Jubilee Day he played the great organ at the African Day event in the Ocean Grove Auditorium. On other occasions he showed himself to be an accomplished organist in public.

Because of the color of his skin, he only found employment with African American companies. Soon afterwards he worked for M. Wittmarks & Sons and the Puggsley's Tennessee Warblers, a Nashville-based Jubilee Ensemble based in New York. His first compositions were printed in 1896, including the Black Patti Waltzes . At the Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition in Nashville in the summer of 1897, he played almost daily concerts with the Accooe Aeolian Quintets in what was then known as the Negroe Building , a building in which cultural contributions by African-American artists were performed during the exhibition. He himself was the director and pianist of the ensemble. In addition, the mandolinist WE Braswell, the cornetist TE Brady, the saxophonist HT Martinet and the cellist Benjamin Shook played. Compositions by Afro-American composers were performed here, including compositions from his hand. The Black Patti Waltzes and the Tennessee Centennial Two Step March, composed especially for the Accoe exhibition, were performed . In May 1898 he resigned the musical direction of the Whitman Sister's Company . In 1898 Accooe produced the musical A Trip to Coontown in New York together with Bob Cole (1868-1911) and Billy Johnson . It was the first musical written, produced, and performed in New York by African Americans . Accooe contributed a few songs and took over the musical direction. His songs have also been recorded in other musicals. From March 1899 he was musical director of John William Isham's (1866-1902) founded Minstrel Show John Isham's Octoroons. He was likely in Kansas during the year. The ballad Only a boy and girl was published by JW Jenkin's Sons, a Kansas City music publisher, and several newspaper articles appeared about him in the local press. Including a police report in which a WF Accooe posing as a musician had been arrested for vagabonding in Leavenworth . In 1900 he became the musical director of the musical company Williams & Walker. In 1900 they produced the musical The Sons of Ham by Bert Williams (1874-1922) and George Walker (1872 / 73-1911). They also worked together on the musical Dahomey in 1902 and at the beginning of 1903, but there were probably disagreements and the position of musical director was filled with James J Vaughan in the further course of the production. Accooe produced a comic opera called The Volunteers with other partners during the year . In the fall of 1903, Accoe fell seriously ill and production was stopped. He died just a few weeks after his thirtieth birthday on April 26, 1904 in his father's apartment. The funeral services were held in the presence of his parents at the Bethel African Episcopal Church on 25th Street in Manhattan . For this he had composed music and a funeral speech himself. He was buried on the local Mount Olivet Cemetary .

Will Accooe was married to the singer Alice McKay Accooe. In his day he was highly valued as a musician and his untimely death was regretted because he was expected to have a great influence on the music of the time. In the following years he was still valued as an Afro-American composer of the early days of jazz and his compositions were counted among the most celebrated rag songs.

Works and projects (selection)

• Black Patti Waltzes , 1896 Will Accooe dedicated the pieces to Sissieretta Jones , known as Black Patti based on the Italian soprano Adelina Patti . Accoe played the pieces with his ensemble at the Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition in Nashville in 1897 . In 2012 they were re-recorded by the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra under the baton of Rick Benjamin and released on the CD Black Manhattan Volume 2 on the New World Records label.
• Tennessee Centennial March , 1897. The piece was composed for and performed for the Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition .
• A trip to Coontown, Musical, 1898. Joint production with Bob Cole and Billy Johnson Accooe was the musical director of the production in the second season and contributed his own songs:
  • Chicken for vocals and piano. Text: Bob Cole and Billie Johnson. The piece was sung by Bob Cole in A trip to Coontown . Incipit: Eph Jackson got a dead swell job . Chorus incipit: Chicken (is the best to eat). Published by Howley, Haviland & Co in New York City in 1899 .
  • Baby I'm done throwed you down . Text: Cole & Johnson, published by Howley, Haviland & Co, New York, September 27, 1899
• Only a boy and girl, a sentimental ballad . Text: Fred E. Alexander, published by JW Jenkin's Sons, Kansas City, 1899
• Octoroons, Musical Farce, was first performed in Chicago. The show has been called the first major black production . Similar to the conventional minstrel show, it had a three-part system. About fifty people were involved in the performance of the show. Accooe contributed musical compositions and finally took over the musical direction in 1899.
• The Casino Girl, Musical , 1900
  • Love has claimed its own, song for the musical The Casino Girl
• The Sons of Ham , world premiere: October 15, 1900. Conductor and additional songs: Will Accooe. The dance performances he composed were not officially listed.
  • The phrenologist coon, text: Ernest Hogan (1865–1909) , incipit: Of all the men of history , published by Jos. W. Stern & Co. in New York, 1901 Bert Williams sang the song and made it known in his shows and recorded it on October 11, 1901 for the Victor Talking Machine Company. Another recording of the song followed on January 15, 1903 by Silas Leachman (1859-1936) with Victor.
• The Belle of Bridgeport , world premiere: October 29, 1900. Additional songs by Will Accooe.
  • Ma dandy soldier coon for voice and piano . The piece was sung by May Irwin in The belle of Bridgeport at the Bijou Theater on Broadway in New York. It was published as a music supplement to the Sunday edition of the New York journal and advertiser on November 25, 1900 on pages 5 to 8. It was published in 1901 in a version for solo voice, choir and piano by Jos. W. Stern & Co relocated.
• The Errand Man. Text: Judson Hicks. 1900 published by Howley, Havilland & Co.
• I'se yo 'poor ole mammy from de south , text: Stephen B. Cassin, published by Jos. W. Stern & Co., New York, 1900
• The Liberty Belles, Musical, first performed: September 9, 1901 at the Chestnut Street Theater in Philadelphia, premiere in New York on September 30, 1901 at the Madison Square Theater. Accooe was one of several composers who taxed numbers on the musical.
  • I'd like to be a Gunner in the Navy, song composed by Will Accooe for the musical The Liberty Belles
• Lulu. I love yer, Lulu. Text and music: Will Accooe, sung by Jenny Eddy, published by Hugo V. Schlam, 1901
• My Samoan Beauty , text: Arthur Trevelyan, 1901 OCLC 1117310875
• The Cannibal King, Musical, 1901, composer: Will Marion Cook. Will Accooe contributed various material, text: Bob Cole and Rosamond Johnson.
• Southern blossoms , Waltzes for piano, published by M. Witmark & ​​Sons, New York, 1901 OCLC 497033730
• The Hottest Coon in Dixie, premiered September 16, 1901
• Cause I'se in society now , text: Hen. Wise, published by Howley, Haviland & Co., New York, 1900
• Love has claimed its own, published by Shapiro, Bernstein & Von Tilzer, New York, 1901 OCLC 497033668
• In Dahomey , musical. It was performed on February 18, 1903 at the New York Theater between 44th and 45th Streets on Broadway . Like the musical A Trip to Coontown , it was created, produced and performed only by African Americans. Previously there was a tryout tour in September 1902, the show in Stamford , Connecticut , directed by Accoe. Between 1902 and 1905 the musical was performed over 1,100 times in London with great success. Contributors included Bert Williams, George Walker and Aida Overton Walker (1880–1914). Songs from the musical that Accooe was involved in were My Lady Frog, She's dancing Sue and Society.
  • My lady frog. Text and music: Will MarionCook and Will Accooe, published by Harry Von Tilzer Music Publishing Co., New York, 1902
  • She's dancing Sue, text: Charles S. Sager Music: Will Marion Cook and Will Accooe, published by Harry Von Tilzer Music Publishing Co., New York, 1902
  • Society
• On the road to Cairo town. Text: James O'Dea, published by Whitney, Warner Pub Co, Detroit, 1903
• Goldie , text: McPherson, published by M. Witmark & ​​Sons, New York, 1904
• Let the band play an Irish tune , text: Cecil Mack, published by M. Witmark & ​​Sons, New York, 1904
• I guess it's love . Text: McPherson, published by M. Witmark & ​​Sons, New York, 1905
• Waltz me Charlie. Text and music: McPherson and Accooe, published by Jos. W. Stern & Co., New York, 1905
• The stars are still shining for you , text: Stephen B. Cassin, published by Jos. W. Stern & Co., New York, 1906
• The games we used to play , text: Marion Powers, published by Harry von Tilzer Music Pub. Co., New York
• In a Birch Canoe, A Kickapoo romance , March and Two Step

literature

• Accooe, Will (Willis) in: Bernard L.Peterson jr: Profiles of African American Stage Performers and Theater People, 1816-1960. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2001 ISBN 978-0-313-29534-8

Web links

• Will Accooe biography at the Library of Congress
• Will Accooe in the WorldCat Bibliographic Database
• Will Accooe in the database of DAHR (English).

Digital copies

1. ^ Chicken as a digitized version in the Brown Digital Repository of the Brown University Library
2. ↑ Love has claimed it's own as a digitized version in the Digital Collections of The New York Public Library
3. ^ The Phrenologist Coon as digitized version in The Lester S. Levy Sheet Music Collection
4. ↑ Ma dandy soldier coon as a digitized version of the Gaylord Music Library at Archive.org
5. ^ The Errand Man as digitized version at The University of Maine
6. ↑ I'd like to be a gunner in the navy as a digitized version in the Digital Collections of The New York Public Library
7. ↑ Lulu. I loves yer, Lulu as a digitized version in the Digital Collections of The New York Public Library
8. ↑ My Samoan beauty as a digitized version in the Digital Collections of The New York Public Library
9. ↑ My LadyFrog as a digitized version in the Library of Congress
10. ^ She's dancing Sue as a digitized version in the Archive of Popular American Music
11. ^ In a birch canoe as digitized version in the Indiana University Digital Library Program
12. ^ In a birch canoe: A Kickapoo romance as digitized version in the Library of Congress

Individual evidence

1. ^ Bernard L. Peterson: Profiles of African American Stage Performers and Theater People, 1816-1960 . Greenwood Publishing Group, 2001, ISBN 978-0-313-29534-8 ( google.de [accessed May 16, 2020]).
2. ↑ ^{a b c d} Negro Composer Dead . In: The Brooklyn Daily Times . Brooklyn, New York April 26, 1904, p. 1 (English, newspapers.com ).
3. ↑ ^{a b} Wrote own funeral oration . In: The New York Times . New York April 27, 1904, p. 2 (English, newspapers.com ).
4. ^ African Day . In: Asbury Park Press . Asbury Park, New Jersey August 10, 1895, p. 1 (English, newspapers.com [accessed May 16, 2020]).
5. ↑ ^{a b c d} William J. Zick: Will Accooe (1874-1904) Composed 'Black Patti Waltzes' (6:16) on New World Records CD 'Black Manhattan, Vol. 2' by Paragon Ragtime Orchestra. In: AfriClassical. December 27, 2012, accessed May 15, 2020 . 
6. ^ ^{A b c d e} Will Accooe (d.1904). In: https://www.loc.gov . The Library of Congress, accessed February 15, 2018 . 
7. ^ From Far Off States . In: The Tennessean . Nashville, Tennessee June 30, 1897, p. 8 (English, newspapers.com ).
8. ^ New York's Colored Exhibit . In: The Tennessean . Nashville, Tennessee July 2, 1897, p. 5 (English, newspapers.com ).
9. ^ In the Negro Building . Nashville, Tennessee July 3, 1897, p. 5 (English, newspapers.com ).
10. ↑ Wm. J. Accooe . In: Lawrence Daily World . Lawrence, Kansas May 26, 1898, p. 3 (English, newspapers.com ).
11. ^ ^{A b} Krystyn R. Moon, David Krasner, Thomas L. Riis: Forgotten Manuscripts: A Trip to Coontown . In: African American Review . tape 44 , no. 1 , 2011, ISSN  1945-6182 , p. 7–24 , doi : 10.1353 / afa.2011.0012 ( jhu.edu [accessed on May 21, 2020]).
12. ↑ Stage News . In: The Topeka Plaindealer . Topeka, Kansas March 10, 1899, p. 2 (English, newspapers.com ).
13. ^ Court News . In: The Leavenworth Times . Leavenworth, Kansas June 28, 1898, p. 4 ( newspapers.com ).
14. ↑ David A. Jasen; Gene Jones: Will Marion Cook . In: Spreadin 'rhythm around: Black popular songwriters, 1880-1930 . New York ; Schirmer Books; London: Prentice Hall International, New York 1998, ISBN 0-02-864742-4 , pp. 87 (English, archive.org [accessed on May 16, 2020]).
15. ↑ ^{a b} Funeral of Will J. Accooe . In: The Brooklyn Daily Eagle . Brooklyn, New York April 29, 1904, pp. 8 (English, newspapers.com ).
16. ↑ Afro-American Cullings . In: The Voice of the People . Birmingham, Alabama August 26, 1916, p. 8 (English, newspapers.com ).
17. ^ Will Marion Cook on Negro Music . In: The New York Age . New York City September 21, 1918, pp. 6 (English, newspapers.com ).
18. ^ How our Jazz Music received its start . In: The Morning Call . Allentown, Pennsylvania November 26, 1922, pp. 4 (English, newspapers.com ).
19. ^ Bernard L Peterson Jr: A Trip to Coontown . In: A century of musicals in black and white: an encyclopedia of musical stage works by, about, or involving African Americans . Greenwood Press, Westport, Conn. 1993, ISBN 0-313-26657-3 , pp. 359 (English, archive.org [accessed on May 16, 2020]).
20. ^ Eileen Southern: Musicals On and Off Broadway . In: The music of Black Americans: a history . Norton, New York 1983, ISBN 0-393-95279-7 , pp. 297 (English, archive.org [accessed on May 16, 2020]).
21. ↑ Chicken . Howley, Haviland & Co, New York 1899 (English, yale.edu [accessed October 17, 2017]).
22. ^ ^{A b} Marvin McAllister: Whiting Up: Whiteface Minstrels and Stage Europeans in African American Performance . Univ of North Carolina Press, 2011, ISBN 978-0-8078-6906-2 ( google.de [accessed May 15, 2020]).
23. ↑ ^{a b} United States Copyright Office: Catalog of Title Entries of Books Etc. Oct 5-Dec 28 Fourth Quarter 1899 vol 21 . US Govt. Print. Off., 1899 ( archive.org [accessed May 21, 2020]).
24. ↑ Baby I'm done throwed you down. In: Library of Congress Catalog. Library of Congress, accessed May 21, 2020 . 
25. ↑ Will Accooe, lyricist Bo Cole: Baby I'se done throwed you down . New York: Howley, Haviland & Co, 1899 ( gov.au [accessed May 21, 2020]).
26. ↑ Will Accooe, lyricist Fred E Alexander: Only a boy and girl: a sentimental ballad . Kansas City, Mo .: JW Jenkin's Sons, 1899 ( gov.au [accessed May 21, 2020]).
27. ^ Camille F. Forbes: Introducing Bert Williams: Burnt Cork, Broadway, and the Story of America's First Black Star . Basic Books, 2008, ISBN 978-0-7867-2235-8 ( google.de [accessed on May 16, 2020]).
28. ^ Marva Carter, Assistant Director of the School of Music Marva Carter: Swing Along: The Musical Life of Will Marion Cook . Oxford University Press, USA, 2008, ISBN 978-0-19-510891-0 ( google.de [accessed May 16, 2020]).
29. ^ Sylvester Russell: Sons of Ham . In: The Freeman . Indianapolis December 28, 1928, p. 15 (English, google.com ).
30. ↑ Jos. W. Stern & Co: The phrenologist coon . Jos. W. Stern & Co, New York (34 E. 21st St., New York) 1901 ( yale.edu [accessed May 15, 2020]).
31. ^ Bernard L. Peterson Jr: A Century of Musicals in Black and White: An Encyclopedia of Musical Stage Works By, About, or Involving African Americans: An Encyclopedia of Musical Stage Works By, About, or Involving African Americans . ABC-CLIO, 1993, ISBN 978-0-313-06454-8 ( google.de [accessed on May 15, 2020]).
32. ↑ Ma dandy soldier coon . New York journal and advertiser, New York November 25, 1900 ( yale.edu [accessed October 17, 2017]).
33. ^ Bijou Theater (New York, NY): Ma dandy soldier coon . New York journal and advertiser, New York 1900 ( yale.edu [accessed May 15, 2020]).
34. ↑ Will Accooe, Glen MacDonough: Madandy soldier coon . Jos. W. Stern & Co, New York 1900 ( yale.edu [accessed May 15, 2020]).
35. ↑ Will Accooe, lyricist SB (Stephen B. Cassin): I'se yo 'poor ole mammy from de south . New York: Jos. W. Stern & Co, 1900 ( gov.au [accessed May 21, 2020]).
36. ^ John Franceschina: Harry B. Smith: Dean of American Librettists . Routledge, 2004, ISBN 978-1-135-94908-2 ( google.de [accessed on May 22, 2020]).
37. ↑ Bernard L Peterson Jr: The Sons of Ham . In: A century of musicals in black and white: an encyclopedia of musical stage works by, about, or involving African Americans . Greenwood Press, Westport, Conn. 1993, ISBN 0-313-26657-3 , pp. 324 (English, archive.org [accessed on May 16, 2020]).
38. ↑ Bernard L. Peterson Jr: The Cannibal King . In: A century of musicals in black and white: an encyclopedia of musical stage works by, about, or involving African Americans . Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut / London 1993, ISBN 0-313-26657-3 , pp. 69 (English, archive.org [accessed on May 16, 2020]).
39. ^ John Franceschina: Incidental and Dance Music in the American Theater from 1786 to 1923 Volume 1 . BearManor Media ( google.de [accessed on May 15, 2020]).
40. ↑ The hottest coon in Dixie . In: The Plain Speaker . Hazleton, Pennsylvania November 16, 1901, p. 4 (English).
41. ^ A play by colored people . In: The Morning Call . Philadelphia November 21, 1901, p. 1 (English, newspapers.com ).
42. ↑ Will Accooe, lyricist Hen Wise: Cause I'se in society now . New York: Howley, Haviland & Co, 1901 ( gov.au [accessed May 21, 2020]).
43. ↑ David A. Jasen, Gene Jones: Spreadin 'Rhythm Around: Black Popular Songwriters, 1880-1930 . Routledge, 2013, ISBN 978-1-135-50972-9 ( google.de [accessed on May 15, 2020]).
44. ^ Thomas L. Riis: The Music and Scripts of "In Dahomey" . AR Editions, Inc., 1996, ISBN 978-0-89579-342-3 ( google.de [accessed on May 15, 2020]).
45. ↑ Will Accooe, lyricist James O'Dea: On the road to Cairo town . Detroit: Whitney, Warner Pub Co, 1903 ( gov.au [accessed May 21, 2020]).
46. ↑ Will Accooe, lyricist Cecil Mack: Goldie . New York: M. Witmark & ​​Sons, 1904 ( gov.au [accessed May 21, 2020]).
47. ↑ Will Accooe, lyricist Cecil Mack: let the band play tune of Irish . New York: M. Witmark & ​​Sons, 1904 ( gov.au [accessed May 21, 2020]).
48. ↑ Will Accooe, lyricist Cecil Mack: love I guess it's . New York: M. Witmark & ​​Sons, 1905 ( gov.au [accessed May 21, 2020]).
49. ↑ Will Accooe, lricist Cecil Mack: Waltz me Charlie . New York: Jos. W. Stern & Co, 1905 ( gov.au [accessed May 21, 2020]).
50. ↑ Will Accooe, lyricist S. B Cassin: The stars are silently shining for you . New York: Jos. W. Stern & Co, 1906 ( gov.au [accessed May 21, 2020]).
51. ↑ Will Accooe, lyricist Mario Powers: The games we used to play . New York: Harry from Tilzer Music Pub. Co, 1905 ( gov.au [accessed May 21, 2020]).