Kennedy Songs of Scotland Concert: 2nd

“Mr. Kennedy, the Scotch vocalist, is evidently destined to become a favorite with the public. He possesses every quality to assimilate with himself the peculiar elements which he appeals to. The Scotch are famous for their love of home. They regard with affection even the singular and bleak costume which is characteristic of the Highlands. Stronger even than this is the love of dialect. To the majority of the world the Scottish patois is uncouth; to the Scotchman it breathes of the heather and of that breezy freedom which is well represented in its orthography. Mr. Kennedy does not affect the kilt, but in every other respect he is a full-blooded Sawney, combining with vigor the two elements of tenderness and patriotism. Beside this he has a pleasant narrative style, enabling him to recite the anecdotes—and they are many and very interesting—connecting or appertaining to the various pieces. Mr. Kennedy’s voice is an agreeable tenor, not very full, but sufficient for the illustration of the lyrics of his country. He insinuates the sympathetic parts with quaint earnestness, and the fuller ones with strength. On Friday evening he attracted a very fine audience to Steinway Hall, and gave, we are sure, complete gratification to every one. The range of Scottish song it so extensive that there is always opportunity for contrast, and this fact was seized happily by Mr. Kennedy in the arrangement of his programme. The songs were neither too lachrymose nor too jerky. They were alike well rendered. The enthusiasm was unbounded, and mainly well deserved. It is so seldom that we find a pure ballad-singer that we take pleasure in directing attention to a gentleman who is a ballad singer. Mr. Kennedy was accompanied with much simplicity by his little daughter, who has taste and feeling for the duty.”