THE FISK JUBILEE SINGERS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14607, 17 May 1918, Page 7

THE FISK JUBILEE SINGERS.

OPEiNmu OF" Blsz\SOJf AT HIS AtAjMrV^.

After a lapse of j'c'°ai-£ life 1 i'isk 'Jubiifp Singers are again making" a tuii'r' of New Zealand, and last night many Llits-bomite-s had the pleasure of again hearing these delightful singers. There was a full house at Hisi Majesty's for the occasion, among those present vbeing the Hon. W. D. S. Ma.cDona.ld, the Hon. Sir JatneS Carroll, and the Hon. A. T. Ngata. Of course the nejw combination dmeivs m personnel, froija -that of earlier y^al's. ; but the characteristics remain the sdme {tii, regard to "the high quality of the voices-, aiid especially m regard to the concerted numbers, Tho singers teally comprise a wonderful choir, and while aJI ifie flolos were splendid, it iv<as iii;' the lial'mony and gradations of tonal •pbw'ei' that, the icompanj- Achieved tliei-r greatest successes. Tin's feature whs manifested ill the openihg number, "Steal Away-,'i which- 'created a- deep iriipi'essioli, Softly the sulxhied voices I merge into louder tones, clear and dfs-* I tinct all fh^.-tinie, and Hnally fade aM'ay m ihe same Jtlmogt mysterious' matiner. After joyous outbursts of song,, m which great happiness . i& conveyed, tho voices gradually died ; away, to break forth again m that setting of. the 'Lord* Prayer" for which the Jubilee Singers have long been' famous, awing to the firre articiilatioii ,. and depth of expression giveh thei-eio. T^Q5 formed 'a~'gi : fltid opening, to what lhight fairly : be : terrii^d ;a; feast of llatfiMityi fhe cqmpany coirtiprivses Misses Bei*tha' Millai* and" Leila Wyburd, sopi'ailOS; 'Misses 'JB'elle F. G?ib•bons and Glaf 6 'Solly, ' Vcdrttraltog ; ' Messrs Sid.: ; Hayri^s, ties. Belcher, add Huntley ; Sp'encfer, ' teaiors ; ' '>les§rs Mar- ) shall Pa'irter and Hteold ' Wilson, bass;i and the talented accompanist, Professor C. A. White, takes' part m the singing, | whether 'he ■' is accoMipajaying on the pialio or hai'monium/'.'E-very^. item" was encorfd J witK' enthusiasm. individually the" vocalists are all excellent; but it is ill: the hattmony that they give the greatest pleasure. ' An eletme'ht of humor that is' appreciated 1 is. inipitrted. to some of : . the mwttb^i'j*, for iii Mr Baynes especially the company possesses a tenor who by his droll by-play can infuse humor into either chorus or aolo work. -Prof. Whito was •accompanying under difficulties,, having to pjay mostly with one hand,' but he succeeded very well, and vrirale' some of the vocalists had colds no ill) effect was perceptible ,m their singing. ' The Jubilee "cnorußes comprised' "Good; News,". "He Moves," "Hard Trials',"' ''Hear Dem Bella," "My Lord Delivered Daniel," and "I'm tt-llollitig Through ail 1 Unfriendly World"— ail being excellent illustrations of the ■plantation jninstrel'sy; iwith wilu'ch the Jubilece Singers have In ! past years made the people familiar. Two' alecs were also effectively sung — the humorous .subjectv "The Band," and"Onward." Mr Harold Wilsoii! le<l thej soloists, his fine bass voice being heard-, with good effect m "Massa m the C 01*.,; Col' Ground," for which he had to te% spond: to a hearty encore. Mr Marshall! Palmer was a great favorite. He saiig, "Piccaninny," and for an, encore saiig "They're Anzacs, Everyone," which found a- warm response on the part ot, the audience. In the second part he san^ "Motlier o' Men," m a way that made' a deep : impression. His' encore naimibers- — for he Avas m. great demand—' included "Mother/! and/the humorous recitation "When are You Goiiv* Away 1 ?" Miss Leilai v Wyburd charmingly saiig' "Pie Kiss of Love," with "The Dear Little ' Shamrock" for an encore. Mi*; Sid. Haynes .was always' enterfcundng. Hb'sm^ splendidly "Tlie Rivers of Love," his encore uumibe'rs inollidiiig' a 'Louisiana son^j and." the" ainusing "Jock McKay." His dominance m the 'bell sougj was also enjoyed, owing, to the connection bet'\veen ihc dong an d the facial expression. Miss Belli; F. Gfbboii!-, describetl' as the only lady baritone, sang I'The" Casble Gate/ and responded" to an . enthusiastic encore, hor oliiief merit t>einfc' the of a l4dy ixjsse^sing such a voice. . . Mr Las. B4U cheir saiig ! "My .Pretty Jan 6"' and "Dear ■Kyes/? beinjr eMhusiastically encored ;' he :riiado effective use of the faJsetto, when finishing up each son^j. Miss Clare.Sblly took the. tau^dieiico by surprise. She had not taken a pi-onounced part m thij choruses, but on- singing the ballad "Coming Home" she disclosed, a inch contralto voice, and "her solo was warrnJy appreciated^ . Aw an:' encore sJie sang "Syimpatihy," which was also- much appreciated. .Mr Htuittey; Spenoer," a " '^ew memhjpu of the oompahy; 1 \yho has a remarkab^ .five: tenor voice, sing "The Sunshine of Your Smile," with "Tlie Old Folks at Home" as an encore. A male . quartette .sanfe' "Bingby and otheiamusing part sbngs, which 'the audience greatly 'enjoyedv:^. Mies: Bertha Millar sang "Magigie," and folloivred up a double encore with a humoroiis dtuet m company .wiito m , Haynes, '"The'.'Btnrtble Bee." Wit^;igo*geous dress and lively actions, Miss MUler made a "liit*' with some of the audience^ who enjoyed the fun. The season. 'will be continued tonight aiid to^mdlrow night, with a nidtiuee to-mbrrow' afternoon, changes of p'ro^ gramme bein^r.pr^nised' t.f<H- each evening-.