The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1894-03-28

L nave been Tor several years CORES
pendent for an English journal whicl
devotes considerable space to musca
matters, and when the English craze sci
in, about 1880, for American banjo and
negro melodies, was sent to find sup.
ply of good and original songs written by
American negroes. made tour of the
South, called at every music store, talk.
ed with musical people and teachers,
and until reached New Orleans | did
not find one song or tune written by a
colored person. There found a dealer
in masic who said he had collection of
music written by Mexican composers
from airs sung by peons,, whom he as
sured me were half Mexican and half ne
gro. | bought few of the compositions
and played one or two over in the eve
ming in the residence of a priest, with
whom l was staying, and he told me
that the music was from a collection
printed and sold by the bandmaster of a
Spanish regiment in the garrison of Ha-
vana. After that | heard no more of ma
tive American compositions from colored
people.
Another gross error about music-lov-
ing colored people common in the North
ern States and in Europe is that they are
fond of the banjo. That is not so, that
instrument was invented by white Nir-
ginan, who played the first one at
Chisty's minstrel show in New York.
The colored people in the South despise
it, and prefer guitars, violins, and wind
or reed instruments. Everywhere in the
South at night the sound of the guitar is
heard from the quarters where the col
ored people live, and they are fond of
the sweet Castilian airs which have
found their way from the Spanish set
Elements in Florida and along the Mis-
sissippi to the furthest bounds of the
South.
The only Afro-American music ever
heard was from colored man living in
st. Adams, Vt, who would stand in lit
tie park in front of the leading hotel on
summer nights and looking toward the
setting sun, would pour out the widest
cries in minor keys; many of his notes
seemed to be like the sounds made by
forest song birds, and the others like the
sounds made by animals when pleased.
But all the out pourings were musical,
weird and touching; his voice was sweet
and powerful. He had been stolen when
a child by SLAYER Captain who sailed
from Salem and afterward settled in Yer
mont. asked the colored man where
he learned the sounds he sang and he
that his father and mother
lsed to make the same sounds at night
all, in some part of Africa long dis
ance from Zanzibar.
have written this communication be-
,ause 1 have been a constant reader of
rhe Sun every day for twenty years,
md do not want to see 1t endorsing the
lilly statement of those who say that the
plantation and jubilee melodies are the
production of the colored people who
ike good music, and who in time, when
in good schools, may produce
of good music.
have read with much pleasure and
interest the valuable African articles
written by your learned Mr.. G. c.
adams, and | have not read anything in
lis articles about native African music
5orthy to be called music and l do not
oppose that any savage ever hit by luck
pom an air worthy of being motif for
lodern musicians. l am, sir, yours,
q. WILFRED PEARcE.
lew Brunswick, N. j., IN. Y. Sun.