The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1919-05-03
NEGRO ORCHESTRA
RAREST OF TREATS
Nothing Like Its Program Has Ever
Before Been Heard in
Milwaukee
ABoUNDs IN RAeTIME
Characteristic Tunes of Colored People
Are Also Feature of Entertain
ment
By Catherine Panniu Mead


1t is safe to say that every member
of the audience that assembled at the
iabst theater on Sunday had the sur
prise of his life. as well as two hours
of the rarest enjoyment provided by
the New York Syncopated Orchestra
under the direction of Win Marion
Cook.
Many of the people present did not
know that the orchestra is composed
OF colored men. with one of the most
celebrated negro composers in the
world at their head, and their inter
est and enjoyment was all the greater
for possessing the element of the un-
expected.
Ii is difficult TO use restraint in
speaking of the program, for nothing
like it has ever been heard before.
II was made up. with one or two eX
CcptionS. entirely of compositions by
negroes and was infused with the
tremendous feeling for rhythm which
is hone of their bone Ii is as dis
tinct from the accents of other peoples
as their music Is different.
Sets Toes A dancing
Two minutes after the orchestra
ana chorus swung into the measures
of Swinging Along" pulses COM
menced to dance, and from that to
the end of the program ones toes
twitched in ones shoes.
And not only was there this fascin-
ating elhsh rubato, but there was un-
usual tone quality from the instru
ments. Something of the mellowness
which is characteristic of their voices
was brought out in both strings and
brass. and there was q drummer!
Buddie Gilmore used "A drum for the
Castles in their dancing act, and he
has added eighteen or twenty new ideas
to his performance since then.
Afprantsat- * Int rkF aff
and release which most organizations
could initiate to their advantage Mr..
Cook is most exacting director. his
skill and thorough musicianship be-
ing evidenced at once in the results
obtained particularly when one real
ICES that the orchestra Is barely four
months old. There is double quar-
tette Of singers who delighted every.
one with their wonderful singing OF
some of the old plantation spirituals
az well as some fine compositions OF
Mr.. Cook =.
Some Rich Material
The wealth of material that Is there
awaiting development is seen In the
orchestration, by Lannen of a plan
tatIon Melody" which is as fine a work
rnelodically as some of the famous
modern comvositions. Roung Lannen,
by the way. Is only %. and never heard
any negro music until ne went south
to train for the army. He has con-
triyed 10 catch the atmosphere re-
markably.
The program abounded In ragtime.
and syncopated melodies YOU are per-
fectly familiar with, but played as you
never heard them played before. and
viii not again until this orchestra re
turns.
Listen to the Lambs by Nathanial
Deu, one of the coming negro COM
poaers. and head of school in Iir-
ginia, Is remarkably beautiful solo
and chorus. Mrs. II. King Reaye. n
most attractive young woman. sang
the solo part in voice as clear and
high as meadow lark's. The chorus
was done here last year by the Ar.on
club. Cooks Rain Song" which clos
ed the program has also been produced
by the Lyrics under Dunham
Voices Especially Rich
There IL peculiar quality TO the
voices or these people that keeps you
strung UP 10 concert pitch while you
listen, strange yearning note, and a
feeling for accented beat which no one
else in the world can match Music
ally there is wonderful material there.
and Mr.. Cook is OH the right road to do
something worth while in the develop
ment Of has people. Their next appear
ancc here VIII meet with packed houses.
Milwaukee Sentinel
tNote.-The foregoing Is but one OF
the many tributes paid to this aggrega-
ton Of musical artists by Milwaukee
papers on the occasion of it's recent
appearance. The "Journal" Leader"
and Wisconsin News were equally
liberal in their praise.-E Editors)