In 1903 "A Guest of Honor" is the first written Opera by famous ragtime composer Scott Joplin. The Opera was believed to be the dramatization of African American civil rights leader Booker T. Washington. It was based at the 1901 dinner Booker T. Washington had with President Rosevelt at the White House. An event that was unheard of at the time that got many praises and many complaints at the same time.
In 1903 Scott Joplin applied for the copyright to the opera with the Library of Congress. Unfortunately, he did not include a copy of the opera with his application and the application mentioned that his publisher John Stark, would publish the music. The music was never published though.
A company of 30 people would be established and they would tour across several states in the Midwest. The beginning of the end of the tour would happen early though. Someone stole the box office receipts and this damaged their financial situation. This lead to the tour ending in Pittsburg, Kansas when payroll and rent couldn't be afforded.
As a result, Scott's belongings were confiscated including the opera score and sheets to other unknown compositions. Not being able to pay for the rent and getting his stuff back he left Pittsburg. These items were supposedly left inside of a trunk and no copy of the score has resurfaced likely being that it was destroyed.
SOURCES:
No comments:
Post a Comment