THE JUBILEE SINGERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2415, 22 October 1892, Page 2

THE JUBILEE SINGERS.

The Jubilee Singers did not draw as large a house at Geraldine on Thursday evening as they expected, but, as it was, the attendance present was by no means disappointing. The present company is not like the previous one, composed of students from the Fisk University. When the old company returned to America, several of its members took unto themselves wives. So when Mr Orpheus M. McAdoo set about reorganising the company, he gave his attention to other universities sa well as Fisk, and the result is that he has returned with a strong combination. The present company consists of Mr Orpheus M. McAdoo, director and baseo profundo; the director’s wife, who is billed as Miss Mattie E. Allan, tenor; Misses Julie C. Wormlie, elocutionist; Belle and F. Gibbons, soprano ; Laura A. Carr, soprano ; Madame J. Stewart Ball, mezzo soprano; Messrs Richard Collins, tenor ; Hamilton Hodges, baritone ; Eugene McAdoo, bass ; and Miss Lucy J. Moten, accompanist. Whether the singing of the present company is stronger than the original one is a matter of opinion, although a good number of musical critics assert that the old company takes second place to this one. The singing, however, of the original company was so good and so well appreciated that it would be simply a matter of taste to make comparisons between the two companies. There is one thing certain, this combination equal their predecessors and produce music the tone of which Mr Jude might well compare to a great organ. The programme at Geraldine was listened to intently from beginning to end, and loud applause, and in many cases encores, greeted each item as it was rendered. The first chorus rendered was “ Steal Away to Jesus,” and the deep pathos of this stilled the audience so that anyone could hear a pin drop. “ The Lord’s Prayer ” was sung conjointly with this chorus, and then “ Get You Ready, There’s a Meeting Here To-night ” brought out an encore, and the company responded with “ ’Tis Jordan’s River.” Mr Orpheus McAdoo, who possesses a wonderful bass voice, sang “ A Hundred Fathoms Deep.” Mr McAdoo is known as the celebrated double A flat basso; He strikes the four-barred G and is said to be able to send his voice lower than any man living. Miss Belle F. Gibbons fairly charmed the audience with the soprano solo “ The Song That Reached my Heart,” In appreciation of an encore she bowed her acknowledgements. A chorus “ Mary and M artha,” a thorough negro melody, took well, and gave place to a humorous male quartette “ Bingo was his name.” As an encore to this they sang “ The bull-dog in the back yard, and the bull-frog in the Pool,” another humorous piece. The chorus, “ Good news, the chariot’s coming,” brought the programme to the interval. Mr <). jVf. McAdoo then explained to the audience the origin of some of the songs. With refined people, he said, some of the songs would be looked upon as sacriligious, but he reminded the audience that they were composed by illiterate slaves, whose minds were uneducated, but whose hearts were full of love. The initial piece of the second part of the programme was a glee, “ Jingle Bells,” with bell accompaniment. This' was'a perfect; 1 gem, anfj revived {( vociferous eqcore. To meet tips wishes of thu an (lien oo they left their seats again, Btui this thus KfUig a comic piece “ taking off” the local Dana, C al,<,rl H T band, the Geraldine Band.” Miss Laura A, OftfT, with a beautifully-toned voice sang «‘Tlxp fountain Lad. She bowed in recognition qf the HffW* which followed, but the andicffiCe was noj. satisfied with this, and, being recalled, she gave a delightful rendition of the song “ Water-cresses.” i( Going to ride up in the chariot ” old Jubilee chorus was sung, and Miss Julie U. Wormlie, a capital elocutionist, recited “How lie Saved St. Nicholas.” As a reciter Miss WoruiHo proved herself to be exceptionally talented, and, above aU> very natural and graceful in her move-, inoiits and gestures, Mr R. H, Collins, the youthful member, sang the slave song “Mother, is massa going _to sell me to-morrow ? ” the refrain being taken up by the rest of the company, This was also re-demanded, and to please their hearers the company gave “ Going to sing.” Mr M. H, Hodge", a fullcompassed baritone, made good music of the good old song “ The old brigade,” and a chorus, “ Hard Trials,” and a glee, “Goodnight, gentle folks,” sent everybody away fully satisfied that they had got their money’s worth of entertainment, Should the company again visit Geraldine tl-ey psm rely on receiving a hearty welcome. The company gave a similar prpgrampi*? last night in Temuka to a splendid house, every item being enthusiastically encored. The visit of the Jubilee Singers will bo long remembered with pleasure.