Jubilee Singers of Fisk University Farewell Concert

“The young students of Fiske University, who compose the little band of Jubilee Singers, leave for their second visit to Great Britain today. Their farewell concert was given at the Academy of Music last evening, and the singular charm that their uncouth melodies possess was shown in the fact that the great building was filled in every part. There could be no finer demonstration of the power of the folk-song, even in its rudest forms, for those of the negro melodies that were unharmonized and sung in simple unison, such as ‘Inching Along,’ were received with the greatest favor.

Modern composers seems to have exhausted all forms, both of melody and harmony, and perhaps the spell that these songs exert is due to the fact that in their rudeness and wildness there is a novelty of sensation that more refined cultivated music fails to give. The singers look forward to new triumphs in England, where they are as popular as in this country. The fund, that grows so rapidly under these efforts, is applied to the completion of Jubilee Hall—a splendid building, every stone of which is contributed by this company. During the intermission the members of the troupe went among the audience carrying piles of books containing the history of their previous tour in England, which were bought up with an avidity which showed how strong a sympathy existed in favor of this enterprise. Gen. Fiske made a short address, and a bouquet was presented to the singers so large that it looked like a portable flower bed, and of which any prima donna might have been proud. And so the Jubilee Singers have received from their countrymen a good send-off, and many kindly wishes accompany them.”

“The Academy of Music was crowded last evening with a fashionable and appreciative audience to enjoy the last concert of these admirable colored artists. The programme was well received, many of their best selections being redemanded. They sail this morning for a second tour in Great Britain, to renew their former success. Mr. Clinton D. Fisk presided and delivered a pleasing address.” 

“An immense audience enjoyed the farewell concert of the Jubilee Singers of Fisk University at the Academy of Music, on Friday. Among the prominent clergymen present were Bishop Janes, Rev. Drs. Whipple, Adams, Taylor, Henry M. Field, of The Evangelist, and others. The old favorite hymns, including ‘River of Jordan,’ ‘Turn Back Pharoah’s Army,’ ‘Inching Along,’ ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,’ were heartily encored. Miss Jennie Jackson sang the ‘Old Kentucky Home,’ and in response to an encore gave ‘Way Down upon the Swanee River.’ Beethoven’s ‘Music Sweet is Ever Flowing,’ by the troupe, was encored, as was also the trio, ‘Oh, restless sea,’ by Miss Porter and Messrs. Rutling and Loudin. The honors of the evening were borne off by Mr. Loudin, who gave as a bass solo, ‘Rocked in the cradle of the deep,’ and was encored three times. The troupe sailed for Europe yesterday.” 

“At the Academy of Music last Friday night the Jubilee Singers gave a farewell concert, being about to return to Great Britain, where they intend to prosecute anew with redoubled exertions their endeavor to raise another large sum of money for the building of Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee.

In consequence of continued ill health Mr. George H. Stuart, of Philadelphia, was unable to attend and address the assembly, but his place was admirably well filled by General Fiske, who in a short and entertaining speech gave an account of what had been accomplished in the South since the termination of the war by the American Missionary Society and these students, wishing them a prosperous voyage and complete success in their transatlantic efforts.

The audience was very large, and applauded most enthusiastically every piece, although it was sometimes evident that the ludicrous effects produced led to the demonstrations. Thus in the song ‘Roll, Jordan, Roll,’ an ascending scale sung loudly by the basses on the word ‘roll’ not being clearly defined, and having each individual note detached from the rest, produced a strange impression, and on its frequent repetitions excited the risible faculties of the audience. There were frequent encores. Mr. Loudin sang ‘Rocked in the cradle of the deep’ very agreeably, and was recalled, when he gave a highly humorous song (‘There’s nothing so good as a laugh’), laughing freely throughout the instrumental interlude, which afforded considerable amusement. Being recalled once again, he sang a second humorous song respecting ‘The laziest man in all the world,’ and his ‘lazy-ghost,’ which was also highly appreciated, and so unanimously encored that Mr. Loudin sang a fourth song on the subject of ‘Friendship.’

The piece on the programme with Beethoven’s name appended as composer consisted of a setting of the first twenty bars of the Adagio from the Sextet in E flat (opus 81) to the words ‘Music sweet is ever flowing,’ but the rest of the music was from some other source.

The pleasure which the negroes derive from music, simple artless poetry and dancing, has done much to preserve them from falling into a state of hopeless apathy during long years of degradation and bondage. Probably the sympathy evoked by a consideration of their rapidly rising prospects and hopes of a really bright future, and a comparison naturally made with their former state of slavery and mental darkness, predisposes one to regard with favor all their musical efforts, and to become susceptible, especially when their pathetic songs are sung with the tenderness and feeling which these Jubilee Singers display. Those songs which by the rhythmic swing and general secular effect of the music and strange phraseology appear almost grotesque, create in us a feeling of pity, which in some persons becomes so intense as to be positively painful; but such songs will, we hope daily become more rare.”