Carry me back to old virginny – Free Jazz Lead Sheet
Ab Major – James A. Bland 1878
Carry Me Back to Old Virginny (1878) is a historic American song. View this free online lead sheet in Ab major.
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Support the projectAbout this song:
Carry Me Back to Old Virginny (1878) is a 19th-century American song that later entered folk and early jazz repertoires. Its flowing melody and simple harmonic structure made it adaptable for vocal and instrumental interpretation.
This free online lead sheet presents the melody and chords in Ab major, suitable for traditional ensembles and expressive performance settings.
About the composer: James A. Bland
James Alan Bland (1854–1911) was an African American musician and composer who became a key figure in early 20th-century American music. He is recognized as the first popular Black composer in the U.S. and wrote over 700 songs, including "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny," which was the official state song of Virginia. Bland's work as a minstrel performer and composer helped break down barriers in the music publishing industry.
Musical strucutre and form
Typically performed in simple AABA ballad form in Ab major with lyrical phrasing and steady harmonic progression.
