FISK JUBILEE SINGERS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 18 November 1924, Page 6

FISK JUBILEE SINGERS.

ENJOYABLE PROGRAMME. Many years ago there came to New Zealand in the course of a world tour a company of singers who made a feature of the folk songs of the negroes, and who, by their excellent interpretation of those melodies, brought the atmosphere of the life of that interesting people to the knowledge of, and afforded delight to, many thousands of listeners the world over. In their singing of the religious and home life melodies they showed a gift of concerted singing which was all their own, and which proved such an attraction as to make their name known all over the world. Since that time there have been several companies who have maintained the name and fame of the originals, with new singers added as the older ones finished their careers. The last to come is that under the control' of Tano Fama, which appealed in Hawera last night at the Opera House. Their programme was very diverse in character, and, while retaining some of those original numbers, has added a large number of new and well-known selections.

The feature of the performance is still the concerted work. The old favourites, “Steal away to Jesus,” “Mary and Martha,” “Peter, go ring dem bells,’.’ and “I’m a-rolling,” are still as popular as ever, their whispered pianissimo effects being wonderfully attractive. Pinsuti’s lovely glee, “Good-night, beloved,” and the plantation "songs, “Shine, shine, moon,” and “De old banjo,” with solos by Miss Thompson and Air. Penn, were also capital numbers and received with enthusiastic applause. The quartet numbers, ‘Rove’s old song” and “The Rosary,” were both well sung and proved very popular.

Miss Baptiste, Miss R. Thompson, and bliss Morrison, the soprano soloists, were all in fine voice, and pleased the listeners so much that they were recalled. A, most unusual number was the baritone s olo by bliss Belle Gibbons, ‘one of the company of. many years ago, and it is a tribute to her art that she still is a favourite with audiences. She sang in capital style 4he song “The Vale of Yesterday.” Ihe basso. Mr, Maxwell, has a great voice of wide range and much power, and was given an enthusiastic reception. His deep, notes, which formed the climax of his numbers, were full and rich and made him a great favourite with the audience. The baritone, Mr. Franklin, in the famous “Prologue to Pagliacci,” and the tenors, Mr. Penn in “Nirvana” and Mr. Spencer in “Lorraine,” were all good agd gave much pleasure to the listeners. An. interesting series of song ’ and st°iT was given by Miss Alwynne and Mr. Penn. All were well rendered and scored the honour of recalls. The accompaniste, Miss M. Joyce, did her work so well as/to make it a distinct feature of the performance, to her the company owe a lot of their success. Altogether it was a progiainnie that pleased the listeners, who would fain have had more. The company were given a great reception and proved themselves very popular with the audience.