THE JUBILEE SINGERS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3135, 21 February 1889, Page 2

THE JUBILEE SINGERS.

The audience which assembled in the Theatre Royal last evening to welcome the Jubilee singers," broke the record." .< After every available seat was filled there wor a big crowd of visitors standing about in all directions. Prompt measures were taken to procure additional seating accommodation, and in a few minutes all the members of the gentler sex present were supplied with seats, the last' of the standing ladies being gallantly supplied with a chair front the stageby Mr Loudin, . With some slight changes, the Company is much the same as when it last visited us, and the beautiful hymn with which they opened " Steal away to Jesus," was rendered with that perfect blending of words and musio into a " vox humana," which almost suggested to the liateuors that " the lost chord." had been recovered, The noxt refraiu, "Ilove King Jesus," was warmly encored. It is almost a revelation to find whatlightand shade, what joyousness and exhilaration can be expressed in a hymn, The Jubilee Singers will confer a benefit on the community if they bring home to a deluded public that sacred songs may be made more effective when they express cheerfulness and gaiety as weil as sombre and pathetic sentiments, The essential diflerence befcweon the Jubilee hymns and those of Iho churches would almost seem to te that the former absorb and reproduce all the sunlight incidental to their religions experienes, whereas the latter carefully exclude it, The Jubilee hymns, notwithstanding their quaint idioms, are truer to nature, hence when properly presented they are so immensely popular. Another piece, " Old ark a Moverin" which-came No. 3 on the list was again an illustration ot this. It evoked a ripple of laughter, but then there was an under current of genuine religious expression in it which was brought out all tho more v,ividlvby contrast. "MyLord delivered Daniel'' was another characteristic specimen, which delighted the audience being alive with , humour, The programme was assorted with glees, solos, choruses and old favorites such as "Peter, go ring dem bells," '.'The work's being done," and "Swing low," but. it is unnecessary to particularise each piece, all being so well received that diftinction is almost invidious., Miss Patty Malone carried the audience away by the. tender thrill with which she rendered her expressive solo, that plaintive and most musical of ancient ballads, ''The Old Folks at Home," and Mr Loudin with his magnificent voice obtained an enthusiastic encore for "The Old Sexton," The Jubilee Singers give their' farewell:. entertainment -this evening, ami should they ever come, this way again in future.years we' feel suro 'that they will, whatever ■length of timo may havo elapsed, find warm friends and admirers in Master, ton.