The bystander., 1917-02-23

J. Rosamond johnson, Composer and
Singer, Recalls Dvorak's Praise OF
Negro Music as Only Original Amer
lean souree---Danquet Closes Memo.
rabie Occasion.
Chicago.-This city is rapidly devel-
oping into musical center. During
the past year it has welcomed many
noted colored musicians, among them
Mrs. Maud Cuncy Hare of Boston, but
it was reserved to Miss Eloisc Davis
Carey, Il graduate Of Northwestern
university and Il short story writer of
brilliancy ana promise. to give Chicago
recently the musical sensation of the
season. She conceived the idea of Gel
ebrating Composers day and honoring
composers Of African descent.
The result was that the Sunday
Afternoon Club Of the Institutional
Church, Of which Rev. A. J. Carey,
d. D., is pastor, gave recital. with j.
Rusamond Johnson. the composer bar
itone Of New York city, as the star,
, which not only filled the auditorium,
, but also crowded the galleries.
The unique feature Of the recital was
that several Of the compositions Of j..
Rosamond Johnson. Deep River and
another composition Of II. IT, Burleigh
and Listen to the Lambs" by Dett,
colored composers, were rendered dur
ing the evening, as well as the works
of some of lhc worlds masters of song.
Mr.. Johnson was supported by Beth
ell choir. James \. Mandy choirmaster;
E. Marie Summers. reader. and Paul
inc James Lee. contralto. Walter e.
Gossett was the accompanist.
An unexpected pleasure was afforded
the audience by the appearance of
Clarence Lee. violinist. who played
with feeling and power His handling
of the bow revealed not only perfect
mastery of the instrument, but that
fire and passion which made Joseph
Douglass famous as a violinist.
Miss Lee appeared in Indian costume
and sang Indian songs. Her singing
of "The White Dawn Is Stealing by
llttI lSS >uuLIuAl. w Ao IuAAilAAS, Ahu "a T.
pealing. And her intense, magnetic
personality, her full soprano and the
thrilling contralto showed at their best
in her singing of "The Rose by
Leurance. Professor Mundy's chorus
did Dett's "Listen to the Lambs" JUS
tice, and that is saying great deal.
But the audience was interested most
in the star of the evening. J. Rosamond
Johnson, the composer and head of
the musical settlement of New York.
Mr.. Johnsons singing was not eX-
traordinary, but lie made a decided hit
as an entertainer and instructor never
theless. He has a dignified and i'm
pressive personality.
He prefaced his second appearance
by stating that the motif Of Walk
Together, Children" was developed by
Anton Dvorak in the "Symphony to
the New World" which is played
every year. He also stated that
Dvorak said that the Negro melodies
were the only original American mu-
sic and that the motif in Go Down,
Moses was as strong as the motif in
Siegfried. Then Mr.. johnson ilustrat-
ed several spirituals. such as Swing
Low, Sweet Chariot" "Walk Together,
Children" and Nobody Knows the
his own composition.
In his third appearance Mr.. Johnson
changed his program. After he had
sung Il Attempt From Loves Sickness
to Fly" by Purcell, he displayed his
skill as a pianist. He played "The
Banjo Song" his own composition.
with technique ana power. Then he
played and sang Under the Bamboo
Tree" another Of his own productions. =.
and closed with the ''Levce Scene" and
Roll Them Cotton Bales" which took
the house by storm. On the whole,
Mr. johnson is a pleasing and gifted
entertainer. After the exercises the
invited guests repaired to the Neigh
borhood Parlor, where the Composers
day banquet. embracing ten courses,
was served. Miss Annabel Carey, Miss
Emma Simpson Davis, 2. B. Prescott,
Jr., and DR.. II. w. B. Garnes formed
the banquet committee.
Mrs. A. J. Carey, an alumna Of At
lanta university. who made reputa-
tiOn as teacher in the southland, pre-
pared n set Of postprandial speeches,
which rivaled the brilliant concert and
the delicious food. Literature, art. mu-
sic and the drama We're discussed not
only in their racial and Negro. but in
their broad and universal aspects.
Rev. A. j. Carey was toastmaster. and
he was master Of the art Of saying
"multum In parvo" and Of aptly intro
ducing the speakers. The following
toasts were responded to: '"rhe Herr
tage of a Race Source of Song and
Story" by Patrick B. Prescott Jr.;
'"The Present Era Of Golden Oppor
tunity For the Afro-American Com
posers," by Mrs. David Manson: "The
Music of Colcridgc Taylor" by II. The
odore Taylor: The Church and the
Stage" "by the writer. and when Rosa
mond Plays" by Alfred Anderson. J.
Rosamond johnson responded.
Miss Eloisc Davis Carey. the presid-
ing genius. was billed to respond to