“Jump, Jim Crow.”

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue IX, 1 September 1900, Page 384

“Jump, Jim Crow.”

ft is related by the “Echo” how the lamented musician, Henry Smart, one day played as a voluntary a selection from Mozart’s “Twelfth Mass,” and afterward had to listen to a protest

friom the churchwardens against such “jiggy stuff,” and how he subsequently turned the tables on them by performing “Jump, Jim Crow” in slow time, wbieh gave them entire satisfaction until he told them what it was. Somewhat similar complaint has been received by the organist of a church not one hundred miles from Regent Street, where, on a recent Sunday, the “Communion Office” was sung to an adaptation of the said “Twelfth Mass." A gentleman, who had apparently been one of the congregation, wrote thus: “In the responses to the commandments, viz., ‘Lord have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law,’—you have a musical flourish between the word ‘us’ and the word ‘and.’ 1 beg respectfully to ask if this is appropriate. It appears to me to be too light and airy for a solemn response.” The organist made answer as follows: “In reply to your note, I can only say that the passage from Mozart’s ‘Twelfth Mass,’ described by you as a ‘flourish,’ is so written by the composer. As to whether it is appropriate or not, I offer no opinion. I am only a harmless drudge engaged by the vicar of this church to play accompaniments to the singing of the ehoir, and my duties do not extend beyond endeavouring to play the music placed before me as correctly as I can.”