THE FISK JUBILEE SINGERS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 2027, 3 January 1889, Page 2

THE FISK JUBILEE SINGERS

As we anticipated would be the case, the return visit of this unique company of singers „ ew v *. ull nouße ,aßt evenin g. the Oddfellows' Hall being crowded. The programme was a very varied and interesting one, inolnding a number of entirely new items. The first part opened with " Oh, Sinner Man," with the Lord's Prayer, followed by " Rise, Shine, for the Light ib Coming," and " Been a' Listenmg," all exoellent examples of evenly balanced part-singing, the harmonies being perfeot. "The Old Ark a Movering " was a very lively spirited chorus, muoh resembling a Christy Minstrel ditty, and this was succeeded by a splendid rendering of the wellknown basso, sons:, "The Soxton," by Mr Loudin, whoso deep oheßt notes m their fulness and roundness enabled him to . do complete justice to it. and scoured for him a hearty enoore, which was responded to with a very amusing laughing boor. A very pretty oonoerted piece, •• Wide Rivor," was next m order after which Misa Patti Malone gave a firat rate rendering of tho favorite Bong, " The Old Folks at Home." As a finale to the first part, the Company gave, by special request, "Walk together Ohildren," whioh was, take it altogether, perhaps the choicest seleotion from their repertoire, being full of evenly balanced harmonies. In . tbe seoond pare, whioh opened with a medley of favorite Amerioan airs, there were the following, viz., "In that getting-up Morning," » We'il overtake the Army," and ♦« My Lord what a Mourning,", while the old favorite, "Steal away to Jesus," was again given m response to many requests sent m to the Musical Director, Mr Loudin. In this part also a great treat was afforded by the exquisite performance by Miss Annie Johnston (who has joined the Company sinoe they were last iv Ashburton), of a very pretty vioreeau intituled " The Song that reaohed my heart." This lady possesses a soprano voice of great purity and sweetness of tone, and her dear enunciation of the words adds greatly to 'the charm of her singing. In response to an enthusiastic encore "The Fairy's Spell" was given, and the oonoert, whioh was heartily enjoyed by all present, was brought to a olose by the perfeot performanoe of another old favorite from tbe Fisk repertoire "Swing Low Sweet Chariot." At the close Mr Loudin heartily thanked the Aahburton publio for their cordial reception, and intimated that this wbb, m all probability, the laßt visit the Jubilee Minstrels would pay to this town, as* they are now on their way home. In dosing our notioe we may mention that onoe or twice the pleasure of the audience j was marred by the determination of two or three infants m arms to join m the music m J their own way, and it is to be regretted that ! the mothers didn't manage to find some friend to take oare of them at home, so that they themselves and others might have enjoyed the oonoert without interruption.