Negro Spirituals

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 17, 8 November 1929, Page 7

Negro Spirituals

1YA Has Feature. , Programme AN outstanding event next week will be the presentation by 1YA, on Tuesday evenine of a selection of the quaint Negro Spirituals or songs of the negro slaves of the Southern States of the United States of America. ‘The performance will be rendered by the Baptist Tabernacle Chorus Choir, of 100 voices, under the baton of Mr. Arthur BE. Wilson. This choir was formed about eight or nine years ¢ and is now considered one of the leading choirs of the Dominion. A previous performance of the "Spirituals" was given in the Baptist Tabernacle before an enthusiastic audience of 1500 people while hundreds were unable to gain admittance, In addition to fine chorus" work by mixed as well as by male and ladies’ choirs, there will be numerous. solos, the vocalists being Mrs. Dorothy Cox, Miss Doreen Logan, Mrs, J, Litherland, Mrs. C. Turley, Mr. Horace Reynolds and Mr. Clinton Williams, During the evening Mr. A. KE. Wilson will give a short dissertation concerning negro spirituals, . The plantation songs known | as "Spirituals" are the spontaneous outburst of intense religious fervour, .and, had their origin chiefly in camp meetings, revivals, and other religious exereises, They were never "composed," but sprang into life, ready made, from the white heat of religious fervour during some protracted meeting in camp or-church, as the simple, ecstatic utterance of wholly untutored minds. Success in singing these folk songs is primarily dependent upon deep spiritual feeling. The voice is not nearly so important as the spirit; and then rhythm, for the Negro’s soul is linked with rhythm. ‘It is a serious misconception of their meaning and value to treat them as "minstrel" songs, and their worth is weakened unless they are done impressively, for through all these songs there breath:s a hope, a faith in the ultimate justice and brotherhood of man. The cadences of sorrow invariably turn to joy, and the message is ever manifest that eventually deliverance from all that hinders and oppresses the soul will come.