“Treemonisha” is a musical written by Scott Joplin in 1911. It was Joplin’s only opera, and it was not performed during his lifetime. However, it has since been revived and is now considered one of Joplin’s most important works.
Joplin composed “Treemonisha” while he was living in New York City. The piece was published by John Stillwell Stark, who was a leading publisher of ragtime music. Despite its musical merits, the piece did not achieve the same level of popularity as some of Joplin’s earlier works, such as “Maple Leaf Rag” and “The Entertainer.”
“Treemonisha” tells the story of a young African American woman named Treemonisha who is born into slavery but gains her freedom and becomes a leader in her community. The musical is set in the Reconstruction era following the Civil War, and it explores themes of education, freedom, and community.
The musical features a number of Joplin’s signature ragtime melodies, as well as more complex and classical-influenced compositions. It also includes spoken dialogue, choral singing, and dance numbers.
Despite its lack of initial success, “Treemonisha” has been revived in recent years and has been performed by opera companies and orchestras around the world. In 1976, Joplin was posthumously awarded a Pulitzer Prize for the opera, and it is now considered to be one of his most important works.
“Treemonisha” is a significant piece of musical history that showcases the talents of Scott Joplin as a composer and storyteller. Its revival in recent years has brought new attention to the work, and it remains an important part of the ragtime genre.