Composer

:

Scott Joplin

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1911

Publication Date

:

1911

Average_duration

:

89:33

Treemonisha is an opera composed by Scott Joplin, an African-American composer and pianist, in 1911. The opera tells the story of a young African-American woman named Treemonisha, who is born into a community of former slaves in the late 19th century. Treemonisha is a strong and intelligent woman who is determined to educate her community and lead them towards a better future. The plot of the opera revolves around Treemonisha's efforts to educate her community and protect them from the dangers of superstition and ignorance. She is opposed by a group of people who believe in the power of magic and superstition, and who are threatened by her efforts to bring education and enlightenment to the community. The opera is divided into three acts, each of which is comprised of several musical numbers. The music of Treemonisha is a blend of African-American folk music, classical music, and ragtime, which was a popular musical style at the time. The opera was composed in 1911, but Joplin was unable to find a producer to stage the work during his lifetime. It was not until 1972, more than 50 years after Joplin's death, that Treemonisha was finally premiered in full. The premiere was held at the Atlanta Civic Center, and was conducted by Gunther Schuller. Treemonisha is notable for its strong female protagonist, its use of African-American folk music, and its themes of education and enlightenment. The opera is also notable for its use of ragtime, which was a popular musical style at the time but had not yet been used in an opera. Overall, Treemonisha is a powerful and important work that showcases the talents of Scott Joplin and highlights the struggles and triumphs of the African-American community in the late 19th century.

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