By Kenneth Reginald Otero-Walker, Matthew C. Pace

Mar 22 2023

Artists find inspiration from an infinite number of sources, and many artists are continually inspired by the natural world, including composer Scott Joplin (1886—1917). From the hit number Maple Leaf Rag to his opera Treemonisha, botanical themes were key elements in Joplin’s work. These herbarium specimens highlight just a few of the plants that the King of Ragtime, Scott Joplin chose for some of his musical compositions.

Scholars have recently analyzed the revival of Joplin’s opera Treemonisha in the context of Black Feminism (Larner 2020).  It is rooted in the argument that education is crucial to thwarting conjurers who play upon superstitions. While sensitive issues such as the depiction of spiritual and cultural practices of the African diaspora may require further discussion, an important feature of Treemonisha is a titular female lead who becomes the savior of the narrative due to her education. 

While the opera is condescending with respect to folk practices such as “conjure” (aka “hoodoo”), it also incorporates animist themes, such as a sacred tree and sympathetic magic. These elements are evidenced by the relationship of the heroine to the tree which grows in front of her homestead. The opera may also be analyzed with respects to its ecological and spiritual overtones. Treemonisha’s attempt to cut the branches off of the tree is the action which MOVES the story forward, with "The Sacred Tree" aria revealing to the heroine the mysterious circumstances of her birth. It is also this action which reveals Treemonisha’s impending education to be the future salvation of her people.

Unfortunately, the opera did not meet with much success; Joplin published the piano score and staged its first performance in 1915 using his own resources in the hope of finding a sponsor for the opera’s production. Joplin died 2 years later. The world premiere of the show would not take place until 1972, with Dr. T. J. Wilson as orchestrator and Katherine Dunham as choreographer. Joplin’s contributions to American music were finally acknowledged by the posthumous bestowal of a special Pulitzer Prize in 1976.

Other operas which include mentions of trees are Mozart’s lesser known and unfinished singspiel Zaide, as well as the sacred tree symbolism depicted in Wagner’s Ring Cycle.