The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1944-03-11
CHAPTER Xxx
(Conclusion)

And now to Discriminate for the writer, while dis
claiming all censorous pretentous AIM yet for reasons
which may be readily understood and fully appreciated
by the reader intends this volume to ncucate the lessons
of advancement by always attempting to honestly dis
tngush between that which progressive in music and
that which the Have them these famous Jubilee
Singers who everywhere thrilled the hearts of their
hearers and whose charming melody of voice. and style
of rendition disarmed the critic, have they established
by all this model for the present and the future! In
some respects they have in other they have not And is
there to be aim beyond the singing of Jubilee songs
Professors White and Seward and all these talented
singers will say, quite sure that there is to be
higher AIM The songs they sang were for the present
forming delightful novelty and serving noble purpose
Still it must be sadly remembered that these Jubilee songs
sprang from former life of enforced degradation; and
that notwithstanding their great beauty of melody and
occasional words of elevated religious character there
was often in both melody and words what forciby re-
minded the hearer of the unfortunate state just mentioned
and the cultured sensitive members of the repre-
sented these reminders were always of the painful
nature And yet such persons could not have the heart to
utter words of encouragement to enterprise having
object noble They like all Others could not but enjoy
the rich melody and harmony of the wonderful Jubilee
voices They too, often listened spellbound; and when
inclined, at times they were to murmur the inspiring
voice of hope heard bidding them to turn from
view of the dark and recedng past to that of rapidly
dawnng day. whose coming should bring for these singers
and all others of their increase of opportunities and
therefore increase of culture.
On the foregoing pages but little has been said of
the secular songs with which times the troupe INDUCED
their audiences Even in music of this kind they
ceedngy pleasing and gratifying to reflect that
the members of the company constantly aimed to obtain
scientific knowledge of general music. No fears be
entertained that the students of Fisk University will
lack for instruction in music of the highest order ample
provision there made for the Of the model
of slave spirituals will in short while give place to
such music BETS the order of things The students
themselves will wish to aim higher as the spirit of true
progress will demand it, Nevertheless of the char
acteristcs displayed by the great Jubilee choir it will be
we'll for them to RETAIN and for all other singers to
initiate: the heartness the soulfuness of their
style of rendition Indeed in their striking exhibitions of
these latter qualities think they may justly claim the
honor OF standing quite peerless and alone and of having
presented model for the present and the future -
model founded on that of the singer which enables
him to melt to stir to its innermost recesses the human
heart that power that enables him to sing as one inspired
And here let me conclude by venturing brief pre-
dlcon My mind goes few years into the future attend
concert given by students by graduates of Fisk Uni
Versty listen to music of the most classical order rem
dered IN manner that would satisfy the most exacting
critic OF the art; and at the time am pleasantly
reminded OF the famous Jubilee Singers of DAYS in the
past by the peculiarly thrilling sweetness of voice and
the charming simplicity and soufuness of manner that
distinguish and add to the beauty of the rendering
The End