Treemonisha
Opera
Treemonisha (1911) is an opera by American ragtime composer Scott Joplin. It is sometimes referred to as a "ragtime opera", though Joplin did not refer to it as such and it encompasses a wide range of musical styles. The music of Treemonisha includes an overture and prelude, along with various recitatives, choruses, small ensemble pieces, a ballet, and a few arias. The opera was largely unknown before its first complete performance in 1972. Joplin was posthumously awarded the Pulitzer Prize for music in 1976 for Treemonisha.
Movements
Act 1
- Confusion (Monisha, Lucy, Ned, Remus, Chorus)
- Good Advice (Parson Alltalk, Chorus)
- Overture
- Surprised (Treemonisha, Chorus)
- The Bag of Luck (Zodzetrick, Monisha, Ned, Treemonisha, Remus)
- The Corn-Huskers (Treemonisha, Chorus)
- The Sacred Tree (Monisha)
- The Wreath (Treemonisha, Lucy, Monisha, Chorus)
- Treemonisha's Bringing Up (Monisha, Treemonisha, Chorus)
- We're Goin' Around (Andy, Chorus)
Act 2
- Aunt Dinah Has Blowed de Horn (Chorus)
- Frolic of the Bears (Chorus)
- Going Home (Remus, Treemonisha, Foreman, Chorus)
- Superstition (Simon, Chorus)
- The Rescue (Treemonisha, Remus)
- The Wasp-Nest (Simon, Cephus, Chorus)
- Treemonisha in Peril (Simon, Zodzetrick, Luddud, Cephus, Chorus)
- We Will Rest Awhile (Male quartet)
Act 3
- A Real Slow Drag (Treemonisha, Lucy, Chorus)
- Abuse (Andy, Treemonisha, Chorus)
- Conjurers Forgiven (Treemonisha, Chorus)
- I Want to See My Child (Duet: Ned and Monisha)
- Prelude to Act 3
- Treemonisha's Return (Monisha, Remus, Ned, Treemonisha, Andy, Zodzetrick, Luddud, Chorus)
- We Will Trust You as Our Leader (Treemonisha, Chorus)
- When Villains Ramble Far and Near (Ned)
- Wrong Is Never Right (Remus, Octet Chorus)
Recommended recordings
- Gunther Schuller YouTubeSpotify (subscription)
- YouTubeSpotify (subscription)

