The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-08-15
Established 1880.
NegrOsLOve of Music.
Alabama Cor. Philadelphia Times.

JOAuouAAuAA: 10 AlooCA A4OW NC DOSS
kin knock the music outen dat fiddle.
Bress de goodnessl if could sling de
bow in dat ar stile dis here yearth
couldn't in no wise hole dis niggur-it
pears like as how my berry heart is a.
lissening."
This remark, made by young freed
man, suggested the thought that in dis
cussing the negro character l had failed
to dwell upon their great love of music,
which is quite an important element in
their make up, and plantation melo-
dies" is an expression which is very
familiar even in northern climeS.
The negroes, as general thing, possess
strong and often melodious voices, and,
under cultivation, many voices might
be developed which would excel those
of the whites. To me, it is a matter of
surprise that some such incident has
not startled the world into an open ac-
acknowledgement of the great musical
powers lying dormant in the brain re-
cesses of our dusky friends.
They invent, one might say, their
own music, and manufacture songs
which are devoid of all sense, and yet,
when heard at distance, one is often
surprised into the exclamation: elbow
well they singl" This is especially in
their religious meetings, when they with
one accord, join their voices in praise
to their Divine Maker, that is to His
glorifcation according to their lights"
Almost every plantation furnishes
good banjo and violin players, who ex-
ecute well on both instruments, without
any advantages of instruction or any
knowledge of music. One can find,
also, in nearly all southern cities, large
brass and string bands, conducted en-
tirely by colored performers, who are
constantly engaged by the whites on all
public and festive occasions requiring
music.
Even simple harmonicon, under
their manipulation, becomes little in
strument of rare melody and sweetness,
and yet this very music which delights
their very souls, or rather hearts, is ac-
counted by them far greater sin than
the willful breaking of the ten COM
mandments. No member of any church
ever touches a musical instrument of
any kind, and to sing aught but a
"hymn" is, indeed, crime of match
less magnitude.
When banjo or fiddle player 'is
foun' out by de grace OBJ de Lord" the
first act is to burn their instruments
amid wild denunciations, he positively
refusing to give way or sell banjo or
fiddle, "kase dat would be a-finging OBJ
temptation in de way OBJ yudders, and
likewise be aiding OBJ de debbil in his
work" Often they have warned me
in the most solemn manner that could
Sin no wise spec to enter in de glorious
kingdom on high, if played on dem
instruments OBJ destruction;" and so
warped are their normal views that
swearing and speaking falsely are small
vices compared to music and dancing.
When we consider that for the sake
of his religion the negro gives up will
ingly those pleasures he most enjoys,
we can but wish that his zeal could be
turned into more enlightened channels.
] have ever before me, in my help,
"Dora," a striking evidence of the
darkieS' love for music. Three times
has she repented of her sins and been
baptized, and each time she has been
turned out of the church for dancing
and singing "de songs OBJ old Satan."
Often when have been playing a
spirited racquet or galop l have seen
Dora throw aside any work she might
be engaged in and rapidly dance from
one side of the yard to the other, keep
ing perfect time in spite of my quick
and frequent changes. A few mornings
since, while playing galop she terms
'Dem Jolly Breddren," l saw through
the window my worthy domestic dane
ing furiously across the yard, brandish-
ing in one hand a gridiron and in the
other an enormous dish-rag, presenting
in her intensity most groteSque ap-
pearance.
AS the "dusky wards of our nation"
aspire now to many exalted positions,
we may yet expect to see some sable
damsel holding spellbound a refined
and critical audience by the melody of
her divinely enhancing voice, for it can
not be denied that ordinarily the negro
possesses a stronger and more flexible
voice than the white, and with cultiva-
ton it is natural to suppose that Won
derful results may be obtained.