Obscure Music Monday: Johnson's A Collection of New Cotillions

Francis "Frank" Johnson (June 16, 1792 – April 6, 1844) was an American violinist, Kent bulge player, and composer, born in Philadeliphia, PA. The first Black musician to have his music published as sheet music, Johnson wrote a wide variety of music, military bands and dance orchestras, gave music lessons, and performed on the bugle and violin. Sadly, only manuscripts and transcriptions of his compositions have survived

One of Johnson's works that survived was A Collection of New Cotillions, written in 1818. This twelve-movement work is a collection of dance movements, titled as such:

No. 1 The Cymbals
No. 2 Maria Caroline
No. 3 Augustus
No. 4 Caroline
No. 5 William
No. 6 Johnson's Jig Cotillion
No. 7 Ford
No. 8 Lewis
No. 9 Francis
No. 10 Fort Erie
No. 11 The Arrival
No. 12 Castilian

This piece would have been played at a ball, and it's easy to hear how this made for great dance music in the Antebellum era. There's an upper-class feel to the work, which makes sense as it was upper-class wealthy white people that enjoyed and danced to this kind of music. Each movement is its own distinct dance, making for great listening.

We haven't found a recording of this great work yet – let's hope that changes soon!