Edict of Emancipation Celebration

Event Information

Venue(s):
Cooper Institute

Performance Forces:
Instrumental, Vocal

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
11 July 2012

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

05 Jan 1863, Evening

Program Details



Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
"New John Brown song"
2)
"Emancipation hymn"

Citations

1)
Announcement: New York Post, 03 January 1863, 2.
“[T]he colored citizens of New York intend to make a grand demonstration in honor of the President’s Emancipation Proclamation. . . . The occasion will be of singular interest.”
2)
Review: New-York Times, 06 January 1863, 8.

          “Never in hot political campaigns, nor upon any other occasion capable of attracting an immense crowd, were so many people bent upon forming a single congregation as those who last night strove to form the auditory in the spacious hall of the Cooper Institute, where joyous notes of jubilee echoed to the edict of negro emancipation. . . .

          Colored people probably composed three-fifths of the assembly, and the remainder were sympathizing whites.  The sexes, too, seemed to be about equally represented, and a large number of intelligent, respectable, joyous faces never stamped an audience as being above mediocrity. . . . The swelling harmony of the vocal and instrumental music seemed best to interpret the spirit of the assembly as the vast audience united in singing the ‘New John Brown Song,’ and ‘Emancipation Hymn’ and other lyrics.”