The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-01-05

thorough studies of the negro songs
in their different phases, peculiar1ties
and locales, Mrs. Tucker last evening
constructed program showing the
evolution of this class Of music from
the steel driving song composed be-
fore there was any United States to
the quasi-negro music which expresses
the negro spirit but is all written by
white men.
One Song and Story.
That the same mind and soul action
which created in an old-time negro
camp meeting, "Mudcr, Is Massa
Gwine ter Sell Us?'' still remains in
the real south among the darkies,
was illustrated by the very first num-
Der Of the concert, not on the printed
program. which has to do with so
modern a thing as the devastation
caused by the boil weeyil
Mrs. Tucker is undoubtedly correct
in her opinion that in the whole do
main of music there is no other ex-
preston Of woe SO keen and deep as
in that song of pure negro origin
formed around the olden fact of slave
families being separated. One even
ing, a noted writer and traveller. per-
haps the greatest magazine editor In
the world, heard Mrs. Tucker sing
that song at little dinner party.
He went home and to bed, and
that song kept possession OF his
brain. Late at night, he arose, dress
ed, routed out his hostess, asked
whether it was possible to get Mrs.
Tucker to allow them to go over to
her house to hear that song again, and
after some telephoning, Mrs. Tucker
sang it again for him in her own par
1or. S. S. Mcclure said that when he
realized that he was leaving Keokuk
in the morning and probably would
have no other opportunity to hear
Mrs. Tucker sing that song, he could
not bear the disappointment without
an effort to hear 1t once more at least.
Some Evolution Of Music.
Having appeared a number of times
annually, on the same subject before
the Monday Music club. Mrs. Tucker
gave last evening program of over
score Of negro songs, none OF which
was on a previous program. And this
is only a minor indication Of the very
large number Of such songs she has
learned, studied. analysed and digest
ed.
The program was in four divisions.
First there were some of the earliest
compositions of the American ne
groes, each characteristic Of differ
ent phase Of his musical existence.
Next came group of spirituals, link
ing the earliest with a later era.
Then there was third group mark
ing long step in the evolution OF
this kind or music, the minstrlesy OF
the spirit OF the negro interpreted in
music by white men. Finally, came
the very latest and very modern phase
OF this long and interesting evolution.
the songs written by some twentieth
century, educated negroes.
Incidental to this last. Mrs. Tucker
said that she expects the wonderful
inherent creative ability OF the orig
inal negroes to produce In the later,
educated generations some very great
music, perhaps better than centuries
of civilization have yet given US.
!
More important Than the Technie.
II would be the veriest nonsense to
talk In terms OF technic about how
Mrs. Tucker sings these songs. In
the first place they are her very own
by right Of discovery and by virtue of
her having made the best and great
est study of them which seems COM
plete Really, nobody else knows how
they should be sung. In the second
place. her recitals are an fnterpreta-
ton of some music SO different from
any other that the accepted system
of notation cannot write it down
Hence such things as comparing with