The New Song Book of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated . . .
Chicago, Illinois: Alpha Kappa Alpha Office, 1966. 11” x 8½”. Stapled pictorial wrappers. Pp. 80. Good due to wrappers split at both staples, moderately soiled and chipped; internally very good with light staining to edges of a few pages.
This is a rare book of sheet music that includes the national hymns and ceremonial music, along with songs written by members of the first historically African American intercollegiate sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA).
was founded in 1908 at Howard University and became the first Black sorority to nationally incorporate in 1913. They have sponsored countless programs to aid in African American education, healthcare, job training and political affairs, and have been honored with official Congress legislation as well as their own inspired Barbie doll. AKA exists today as part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, which they helped form at Howard in 1930.
This book, which cited the efforts of AKA president Julia Brogdon Purnell and National Music Committee chairwoman Geraldine Ophelia Banks Mosley, contains not only the national hymns of AKA and other Black fraternities and sororities, but also “songs for special days, regional, chapter, devotional, action, and pep songs.” The book lists the members of AKA's National Music Committee for 1964 (including their hometowns and chapters), and holds the musical notation and lyrics for 34 songs, plus the “Words Only” for 79 more. The tunes are organized alphabetically in four sections: there are nine “National Hymns” of African American sororities and fraternities, and 24 with “Original Words and Music by Sorors,” including several chapter songs as well as hymns adapted nationally for Founders Day and a memorial service. One section is wholly devoted to ivy, the AKA official symbol, with the words and arrangement to the “Ivy Hymn” plus lyrics to eight songs written by Beta Gamma chapter's Ivy Leaf Club. The remaining 71 songs (available in the book as lyrics only) include odes to the sorority and its directors, pep songs and titles such as “Girl of My Dreams,” “Jolly AKAs” and “AKA We'll Always Honor Thee.” Nearly every piece lists its composer and/or lyricist, and several notations' lyrics are printed in a handwritten font.
A fantastic book of musical notation and lyrics from the first African American intercollegiate sorority. No holdings were located in OCLC. Good. Item #8423
Price: $950.00