New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-10
4 RACK CWOTR.


talent fer music Of the negro. as well as to
those who deny him the possession OF any musi-
cal Gift except such as is implied in his UNI
questioned capacity for mimicry. visit to the
show called BLACK America" is recommended.
There is n large amount of extraneous ana un-
interesting matter ia the entertainment which
Mr. Salisbury has provided but the good things
outvcigh the bad many times over, and are
ceuable of giving a faded and mentally weary
mortal such a stimulus he will walt for In
vain M the conventional diversions OF our
theatres No one can listen 10 the singing or
the 800 choristers at Ambrose Park without
marvcIling at the results produced by the rude
people who have been gathered together there
The question is one entirely distinct from the
chronological value Of the songs which are sung
The list IT must be confessed. Is distinctly dis
appointing TO the student OF negro song IN
America and will help to confirm the notion
already Widespread, that the negro. In slavery
and out of slavery. sang and sings only songs
learned from the whites.
But that is little t. the present purpose; here
is the great and impressive fact In the case
A choir Of black people. innocent OF all culture
produces effects with its singing which may
without cxlggcretion b. said to be unique IN
tho history Of choral music in America or any
other country Singing in the open air, AT
gre,, distance from the listeners. without
acnustical helps save the open sheds In whlch
tho listeners sit this black choir gives out a
volume of tone compared with which the sing
ing Of our largest choral society in hall is as
chldrcn's murmurngs. This result ~ not due
f. a studied pursuit Of effects 1t Is an ebul-
ton ~ the Unborn feeling which the singers
have f,r music. The choir sings because It's
| members low. t. sing study. even cursorily.
m. work - the best II our amateur cholrs
devoted 10 artistic music and you VIII be com
/ rellei - rtcoguiz" that a large percentage or
IN. proll. I'm the singers seats do not sing at
all Not $50 with the singers at Ambrose fark.
II IL probably ~ difficult TO keep them from
singing ~ J, sccms impossible 70 keep them
from dancing whenever the programme leaves
them unoccupicd FOR a moment The result -
/ that their Who'll. souls 20 into the music. To
listen long {, the torture To- which their voices
are frequently subjected would drive "voice
| builder" into Il inadhousr. but frequently II -
+ ir4f this want ~ temperance and artistic cor
/ r.,tncss which l,uds thr peculiar charm 10 the
! singing II enhances the singular quality when
/ negro voices possess.
This quality IL most prominent In the low
| voices the coniralios and basses. In the mass
/ choir III. soprnnos are not assertve. The ef-
/ fect is rather that - an organ used In the old
fashioned way. that u.s. az FIRST II all harmony
| instrument. Lut the contraltos. singing voice
! ,,nieh ~ would not he easy to reconcile with
/ conventional notions - part-wrlting. ar" very
/ much in ih. foreground \ crescent" passage
rising inward through thr scale brings Out
/ IN. qunli, I'm the basscs. II IL quite indracr'b'
able Following the example ~ the conductors
who seek H. convey their wishes touching ion"l
quality 10y calling In anal"gues from other arts
one might say that IT had ia" color of bronze
iui that might convey vagu" impression il
AN, az al. Enough that IL ~ fun of vitality
Al once the product and the cause OF profound
f..ling Ever and anon. when the choir reaches
4 climax. the ,onal srouniswell rolls upward
Ike the full diapasons OF mighty organ
| IAnn Ike