George Hamilton Green: Much More Than Ragtime
A Rhythm! Discovery Center exhibit curated by Ryan C. Lewis and designed by Otice C. Sircy
Currently on display in the PAS Rhythm! Discovery Center are several items related to the legendary xylophonist George Hamilton Green, Jr. The exhibit focuses not only on Green’s musical career as a performing xylophonist, but also offers a comprehensive display of photos and documents illustrating his other interests, both professional and personal. The exhibit includes rarely seen personal photographs of George and his older brother, Joe, collectively known as the Green Brothers, as well as pictures of their extended family and musician friends.
Green’s personal canvas mallet bag, which was handmade by his wife, Georgia, is on loan from George’s nephew, Lewis Green, Jr. Mallets similar to the ones used by Green were donated to PAS for this exhibit by Michael Rosen, including a “turned-handle” mallet to illustrate Green’s preference for this style handle.
An autographed copy of Green’s xylophone solo “Caprice Valsant,” as well as several other original instruction books and pieces of popular music composed by Green, help illustrate the variety of compositions Green generated during his career.
One of the most unique items in the exhibit is a set of original specifications and drawings of the George Hamilton Green models of Leedy xylophones, from the PAS collection. To further illustrate Green’s association with Leedy, one can see an original 1935 issue of Leedy Drum Topics, No. 25, featuring “The Incomparable Green Brothers” on the cover.
On the lighter side of George Hamilton Green’s career, one will find examples of his comic illustrations, many of which were published in well-known national magazines.
Read an abridged version of Ryan C. Lewis’s thesis on Green on page 68 of this issue.
  
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