Concert

“In the general moral uprising of the colored race the artistic element has its share. The negroes were always a musical people, and that is the only one of the fine arts for which they seem by nature to have any special aptitude. So far as we know they have accomplished nothing in the way of design, and as to pictorial art, the highest flight of their ambition is that monochromatic style which goes to make our houses comfortable. But in music they are asserting themselves more strongly.

The jubilee singers have entertained large audiences throughout the country during the past year, and on two evenings of this week Steinway Hall is occupied by different companies of colored singers. The first of these concerts took place last evening, and from the exceedingly small attendance we should think that the colored people had rather a low opinion of the ability of those of their own race to give concerts worth listening to. Only a handful were present, and most of the applause and encouragement of the evening came apparently from the white people who were present.

Of course it was called a grand concert—perhaps because a grand piano was used. All concerts nowadays are grand. The term used to imply an orchestra, but now it implies nothing whatever. The givers of this concert were the Hyers Sisters and the Luca Brothers. They sing Italian music, but they sing it with English words. This is a mistake, for the Italian words are very fine and melodious, and the English words are very stupid and ridiculous. Especially is this the case in such operas as ‘Trovatore.’ The blood and thunder of that remarkable libretto the English language is quite incapable of reproducing.

We should like to be able to say that the Hyers Sisters and the Luca Brothers, or all or either of them, had reached a proud eminence in art. But we cannot say so truthfully, and so we will not say so at all. The fact is, that they have climbed that lofty ladder of art just about as far as might have been expected—that is, they stand, so to speak, on the first rung. There is more or less talk about natural musicians; but such persons rarely exist. Music is an art, the mastery of which requires more than almost any other, the most careful elementary teaching and development, and people who rush into it without that training, and on the strength of having an ear for melody, rush in with all their imperfections on their heads. And that is precisely what the sisters Hyers and eke [sic] the brothers Luca have done.

Mr. A. A. Luca, the tenor, is the best musician of the four. His voice is an exceedingly good one in quality, and if he had been properly taught he might certainly have been a more than ordinarily good singer. But what opportunities have the colored people had for any proper training? What conservatories have been open to them? What they have learned was picked up through their faculty of imitation. They have been to concerts and heard good singers, and have tried to learn in this way. Unfortunately they have learned the bad with the good, and imitate the airs and graces with far too great exactness and fidelity to the white originals. The time will come, however, when there will be proper training schools for the colored race, and then, when instruction forms, disciplines, and guides their unquestionable talent for music they will take a high stand in the illustration of that art. At present their efforts are rudimentary and characterized rather by ambition than by any real attainment. In the course of the next generation we shall find negroes who are good, perhaps even great musicians, but not in this one. They must have time to grow, for it is but a mushroom art that springs up in a night.”

“A small audience assembled last evening at Steinway Hall to listen to a concert given by the Misses Hyers, assisted by the Messrs. Luca. These persons are colored, and to the musical instincts of their race have added careful musical training. Miss Anna Hyers possesses a flexible voice, of great compass, clear and steady in the higher notes. Miss Emma, the contralto, has a voice of great power and depth, qualities which, in lighter passages, diminish its melody, but in impassioned strains give it a richness not often heard in chamber concerts. Mr. A. A. Luca, although he fails to articulate distinctly in softer passages, has a tenor voice of much sweetness and under perfect control. His brother, the baritone, we should judge was suffering from a cold. The airs included selections from the compositions of Verdi, Flotow, Santley and others. The gem of the evening was the ‘Miserere’ scene from ‘Il Trovatore,’ which was skillfully rendered by the sisters; Miss Emma singing her part with very fine effect. A duet by Millard, sung by Miss Anna and Mr. A. A. Luca, was also remarkably well rendered, Miss Anna displaying the admirable qualities of her voice and her careful training to the greatest advantage. The audience was enthusiastic, and encores were frequent. It is singular that the troupe do not sing at all in quartet.” 

“Unlike the young people from Nashville [Fisk Jubilee Singers], they devote themselves to the higher kinds of Italian and other music, and challenge critical attention to their acquirements as artists.”