MUSIC

SOME COMPOSERS OF MUSIC

During the days of slavery many Negroes in New Orleans were well educated. Among them were a number of persons who gained distinction as composers of music. Some of these were:

Dede, Edmund.-Author of "Le Sement de l'Arabe," "Le Palmier Overture."

Snaer, Samuel.-Author of "Le Chant du Depart," "Le Vampire."

Bares Basil.-Author of "La Capricieuse Valse," "Delphine Valse Brilliante."

Lambert, Lucien.-Author of "Le Depart du Conscrit," "Les Ombers Aimers."

Lambert, Sidney.-Author of "Si J'estais Roi," Muimures du Soir."

Hemmenway, James. He lived in Philadelphia and was a contributor in 1829 to a musical journal, Atkinson's Casket. Among his compositions were: "That Rest So Sweet Like Bliss Above," "The Philadelphia Grand Entree March," and "Hunter and Hope Waltzes."

Conner, A. J.-From 1846 to 1857 he composed a number of musical selections which were published by Philadelphia and Boston music houses. Among his compositions were: "My Cherished Hopes My Fondest Dreams," "American Polka Quardrilles," and "New York Polka Waltz."

Holland, Justin.-In the seventies he he was a well known composer of guitar music in Cleveland, Ohio. Among his compositions are: "Holland's Comprehensvie Methods for the Guitar," J. L. Peters & Company, New York, 1874; "Holland's Modern Method for the Guitar," S. Brainard & Sons, Cleveland, Ohio, 1876.

Lucas, Samuel.-First Negro writer of popular ballads, wrote "Grandfather's Clock Was Too Tall For The Shelf."

Melburn, George.-A wandering Negro street minstrel, was the composer of "Listen to the Mocking Bird." It was set to music by a white man, Septemus Winner, who got the credit and the financial profits.

Bland, James.-He wrote "Carry Me Back to Old Virginia."

Davis, Gussie L.-A few years ago he was a prominent writer of popular music at Cincinnati. Among his well known works are:

"The Lighthouse By the Sea," "The Baggage Coach Ahead," etc., Coleridge-Taylor, Samuel.-Born, London, August 15, 1875; died. London, September 1, 1912. He was one of the most distinguished colored composers and one of the best known modern composers. He was a son of a doctor of medicine, a native of Sierra Leone, Africa, and an English mother. At the age of six (in 1881) he began the study of the violin. At 16 he entered the Royal College of Music and became a pupil of Villera Stanford. His many opus numbers included a symphony, a nonet and various other works of chamber music, a cantata with Hiawatha for its epic hero, an oratorio, the musical settings of Stephen Phillips' "Herod," "Ulysses" and "Nero." Coleridge-Taylor's compositions are marked by variety and vigorous originality, by tenderness of feeling and by poetic imagination. They have something of the plaintive, wistful quality of plantation song. His best and most considerable scores are those written for the chorus, and it is by the Hiawatha trilogy that he is best known and will be longest remembered. It was through this production that he gained distinction and popularity on both sides of the Atlantic. Critical opinion agrees in regarding it as his masterpiece. His last choral work, "A Tale of Old Japan," was an unprecedented success. It is esteemed almost as much as the Hiawatha trilogy.

Other well known composers of the present day with some of their compositions, are:

Cook, Will Marion, New York, "Exhortation," "The Rain Song," "The Casino Girl," "Bandana Land," "Cruel Popupa," etc.

Europe, James Reese, "Benefactors," "Strength of the Nation," etc. He has also achieved Nation-wide fame as the leader of the National Negro Orchestra.

Hill, J. Leubrie, New York, Lyric writer. Has written a number of Lyrics for white theatrical companies.

Johnson, J. Rosamond, New York, was born at Jacksonville, Florida, 1873. He studied at the New England Conservatory of Music and has developed a new and distinct style of Negro music. He has written light operas for Klaw and Erlanger and songs for May Irwin, Lillian Russell, and Anna Held. Among his compositions are: "Under the Bamboo Tree," "Since You Went Away," "The Awakening," "Lazy Moon," and "The Congo Love Song."

Joplin, Scott, New York, "Treemonisha" (an opera in three acts), "Classic Ragtime Melodies for the Piano," etc.

Smith, Christ, "It's Hard to Love Somebody When They Love Somebody Else," "Good Morning, Carrie," etc.

Smith, N. Clark, Wichita, Kansas, "Some Favorite Folk Melodies," "Negro Folk Song Suite," "Plantation Song Cycle," etc.

Thompson, De Koven, Chicago, "Dear Lord, Remember Me,” “If I Forget," etc.

Tyers, W. H., New York, "Silhouettes (Dancing Shadows)," "Tout a Vous," etc.

Aldridge, Amanda Ira, of London, daughter of Ira Aldridge, the famous actor, is a composer of note. She is known professionally as "Montague Ring." A number of her compositions have African themes.

A recent press report of a Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace, where the program included the "Four African Dances" said: "What African that heard her rendering of her own pianoforte solo, "The Call to the Feast,' can forget the drum of the Capalistic brotherhood of the Nigerian 'Osugbo' within the sacred square of the Para, the rhythmic solemnity of the aristocratic dance of the chiefs, or the terminal scene of the great ceremony, when Adimu, Adamu, Ogunran and the 'Dancing Girls' whirl in gentle poetry of motion in the lengthening shadows of evening and the 'Call Home' dies away under the flickering glow of the first evening stars, which flash upon the tired resting limbs of a sleeping town! In 'Luleta's Dance' Montague Ring made the woodland ring with laughter, and the very trees to wave in sheer merriment. Her audience saw and heard the light tripping, seductive movement of Togoland 'KeriKeri,' the Minuet grace of the Fanti 'Adenkum' and the almost tragic, but majestic measures of the Apolonian 'Kuntum.' The appreciation which they have obtained, leads us to hope that in Miss Ira Aldridge, African music has found a worthy successor to the late Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, so unhappily and so early taken from us."

James S. Hatcher, Dean of Theology, Kittrell College, Kittrell, N. C., "I Cannot Drift," "Come to Me," "The Sailors Yodel," and "Tis Only the Clouds that Hide," an anthem, "Yet Will I Rejoice," and a number of love songs. He also has written a number of poems. Other composers who are attracting attention are: Joseph Jordan, E. E. Thompson, William H. Myers, Ford Dabney, Jesse Shipp, C. L. Roberts, Tim Brymn, James M. Shaw, J. J. Larkins, John Berry, Roy L. Burch and Shelton Brands.

SOME SINGERS OF PROMINENCE

Greenfield, Elizabeth Taylor, "The Black Swan," first came into prominence in 1851. She was born in Mississippi, was taken to Philadelphia, where she received her education and first came into prominence. She attracted much attention both in England and America, and was frequently compared with Jenny Lind, who was at that time at the height of her fame.

Selika, Madame Marie.-The next person of color to gain international fame as a singer was Madame Marie Selika, of Chicago. She became prominent in 1880.

In 1882, she visited Europe and achieved great success. The Paris Figaro said of her appearance in Paris: "Mme. Selika sang in great style. She has a very strong voice of depth and compass, rising with perfect ease from C to C, and she trills like a feathered songster, whose notes suddenly fall upon your ear in the solitude of the woodland on a perfect day in June. Her range is marvelous and her execution and style of rendition show perfect cultivation. Her 'Echo Song,' cannot be surpassed. It was beyond any criticism. It was an artistic triumph."

The Berlin Tagblatt, said of her appearance in Berlin: "The concert by Mme. Selika was given yesterday before a well filled house, and this distinguished artist gave us a genuine pleasure. Mme. Selika, with her singing, roused the audience to the highest pitch of enthusiasm, and after her first Aria, she was twice recalled, and could quiet the vociferous applause only by rendering a selection with orchestral accompaniment. Of this wonderful singer, we can only say that she is endowed with a voice of surpassing sweetness and extraordinary compass. With her pure tones, her wonderful trills and roulades her correct rendering of the most difficult intervals, she not only gains the admiration of amateurs, but also that of professional musicians and critics. It is almost impossible to describe the effect of her voice; one must hear it to appreciate its thrilling beauty." Madame Selika is at present teaching music at the Colored Music School Settlement in New York City.

Batson, Flora.-Mrs. Bergen. The next singer of prominence was Flora Batson who became noted in 1887. She was born at Providence, R. I., 1870; she sang in Europe, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. During a great temperance revival in New York, she sang for ninety successive nights, with great effect, one song, "Six Feet of Earth Make Us All One Size." She died at Philadelphia, Pa., December 2, 1906.

Jones, Madame Sisseretta.-"Black Patti," began to become prominent about 1890. She has sung with great success in all the principal cities of Europe. In recent years she had her own company, known as "The Black Patti Troubadours," at the head of which she appeared in every important city of the United States, in the West Indies and Central America.

Hackley, Mrs. E. Azalia, of Detroit and Philadelphia, has for a number of years been a prominent singer. She has studied in Europe, is the author of "Guide to Voice Culture." and has done much to cultivate the musical instinct of the colored people.

Brown, Madame Anita Patti, of Chicago, is one of the most prominent singers of the race. She has a voice of rare quality. She has sung in the leading cities of the United States and in the West Indies.

Burleigh, Harry T., is perhaps the foremost baritone soloist of the race.

For the past eighteen years he has been a soloist in the St. George's Protestant Episcopal church, which is one of the leading churches of New York City, and numbers among its members such persons as Mr. Seth Low and the late Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan, who was especially fond of his singing. Mr. Burleigh is also employed by the aristocratic Fifth Avenue Jewish Synagogue. His reputation has been achieved as a concert and oratorio singer. He is also a composer of note. He has to his credit a number of songs, two festival anthems, and a set of six short piano pieces based on Negro folk songs.

Bethune, Thomas Greene.-"Blind Tom," noted musical prodigy. Born blind and a slave, near Columbus, Georgia, May 25, 1849. Died July 3, 1908.

From infancy he manifested an extraordinary fondness for musical sounds. Is said to have exhibited his musical talent before he was two years old. He played the piano when four years old, and was soon able to play everything he heard. Not only the most difficult pieces, but he also imitated the birds, wind, rain, thunder, etc. Appeared in his first concert when eight years old. Traveled for years and gave concerts in every part of America and Europe. Could immediately play any selection by only hearing it once. One of the few great musical prodigies.

Aldridge, Luranah A., daughter of of Ira Aldridge, the famous actor, is a contralto singer of note. She has appeared in all of the most important opera houses in England and on the Continent. "The great Charles Gounod, in a letter addressed to Sir Augustus Harris, said she possesses the most beautiful contralto voice he had ever heard."

Hodges, Hamilton.-He is a distinguished baritone singer from Boston, Massachusetts, who makes his home in Auckland, New Zealand, where he maintains a studio and is one of the leading singers in that island. The New Zeland Free Lance recently said of him: "Mr. Hodges is helping to raise the standard of musical taste in this community, for he includes nothing tawdry in his program. He has a cultured, artistic judgment and as he is always on the alert for new music of a high standard, we are indebted to him for a knowledge of many fine songs."

Some other singers of prominence are: William H. Richardson,