THE JUBILEE SINGERS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2518, 7 February 1887, Page 2

THE JUBILEE SINGERS.

Nearly forty years ago-a-wonderful, book was published, which drew the sympathies of the whole civilised world to the pitiable condition of the negro slaves of America, and pro.pared the way for their emancipation a few' years later.' " Uncle Tom's. Cabin" presented not only a graphio description of the dark side of slave life, but also a faithful picture of its brighter aspects, where grand spiritual natures under surroundings which would have crushed all moral sense or hope out of some races, shone the brighter for the.fearful privations arid tyranny.-which they endured. ■'Every light and shade of negro life was illustrated in Harriet Beecher Stowe'fl masterpiece, including that quaint and sunny humor which is so typical of the race. The Jubille singers who aro now visiting us seem to be almost a chapter out of this, the greatest American work of fiction! They! deliniate all the beautiful traits of 'negro character with which it made us familial 1 in our boyhood, and bring back the magic story forcibly to our'

recollection. One can almost fancy that the grave sedate gentleman who introduces his companions' is an odiHjflM "Me Tom,'-or that at least he ppssesses- some of those fine Sal'■'qualities witli which Harriet Beecher Stole endowed her hero, No doubt to mjisioiajis'' the'speoial oharm of the entertamment : h^B,;in ,v the bar-, mony.- of /beautiful ;and- power■M■!/voices, and. the 'wonderfully acouraite vocalisation,' but .apart from this, the entertainment is a ■•{ Tableaux vivants," telling a story which has.only once been written in one; vivid and imrjiorfcal work, and which now, for the 'firat tune within our experience, we find reproduced with almost electrical effect from the atage, Coming amongst ns with euch flattering testimonials from the .English and Continental. Press, it is no'' wonder that the Fisk Jubilee Singerß drew so large an audience at the Mais-' terton Theatre Royal on Saturday evening. To those who have-not heard these children of song the first impression is ouo of wonder and delight: wonder, when tho wild, thrilling molodies are boing sung with -an earnestness peouliar to the raco; and delight when the voices ■ sink with a mournful cadence into a sweet plaintive strain, •that just reaches the ears of the listener. Their great charm is not so

much in their rendering of the class of music that Europeans are wont to listen to, as in the fantastic and

original style of the songs peculiar to thoir race. This was especially notice-

able on Saturday evening when the splendid bass voice of Mr Loudin was heard in that grand old song " Rocked iii the cradle of the deep." Tho singer, no doubt, interpreted'the song to display tho peculiar and extensive range

of'his voice; but to the minds of a •great many the effect of the melody was marred. Singers, whether amateurs or professionals, are allowed to use thoir own discretion in translating a composers ideas, but then there is suoh a thing as-sacrificing time and tune for the exhibition of voice. It is somewhat difficult to criticise the performances of the Jubilee songsters in their original compositions, because, likeall nativemelodies' they are marked by decidedly, original characteristics. The Jubilee Singers possess wonderful power of sustaining both high an,§ low notes to a marvellous duration, show-' ingthat they have cultivated the vocal art almost to perfection. In the whole of their partß the : notes are taken with great confidence and precision and the flute' like voices qlending with if most pleasing effect could not but be a source of enjoyment to all present. In somo of the original songs the Forte parts seemed like a weird cry for freedom, but when they gradually descended to a subdued tone, the effect was charming and led the.audience to imagine that' they were listening to a distant chorus instead of having' the singers near them. In selecting the gem of the programme the choico must fall on the song, "Who'll buy my Hoses," which fully, deserved the enthusiastic encore it received, and.the coquettish manner the young lady responded with " Nothing else to Do'/" fairly brought down the house, - and \ms ■rewarded ..with several boquets,. arid continuous japplause, As to night is the .final appearance of ' these singers in Maste'r.tqn. \ve woulcj recommend all' who' have. not done so to go and hear them, and wo are sure they will re-echo' the general verdictof Saturday evening'.s audience; which was repeated after each Hem of the, following programme:—My good Lord's been her.e—(With the Lord's prayer);' Stay in 'ttie Field ;■ In

■ Bright Mansions; I am rolling tKro» an unfriendly World; song, RocWff in the Cradle, of the Deep;. Judgment • Day is Boiling Around'; song, ,Who'll buy my Roses; (encore, Nothing else to do); Walk together Children;.part song,, the Sleigh -Bells;■ Go Down Moses; He moves in the middle of the Air, (encore, Do : Love the Lord); I've been Redeemed';'' Quartette: Givi) me my. own Native Iste-;.'Wraitlifl'i:'.. «,»o ' Jacob; Is there AnybpdyjHefe.QeM Sff 'Beady to Die; Homer ;SweeWm,; .