Description

Fourth visit to Great Britain!!! The Fisk Jubilee Singers
Manchaster: R. Johnson & Sons [1897].

27 x 18 cm (10.5 x 7 inches), [4 pp.] with illustrated first page, printed in red and black).

[and:]
The Fisk Jubilee Singers will sing their Plantation Melodies at the Town Hall, Streatham on Thursday and Friday
Streatham: Walter Brown & Smith [1897].

Broadside, 13,7 x 18,7 cm (7.4 x 5.4 inches), verso blank, a piece of white paper attached verso (small loss of text in upper part – remains on the upper margin of the pamphlet described above).

The Fisk Jubilee Singers, an African-American a cappella ensemble, was established in 1871 at Fisk University, a private, historically Black, liberal arts college located in Nashville, Tennessee, with the purpose of raising funds for the institution. The group, comprised of both women and men, specialized in performing spirituals, many of which originated from slave songs—sometimes referred to as “Plantation Melodies.” Their renditions of Christian spirituals garnered significant recognition among the upper classes in the United States and, subsequently, in Europe.

During the period of the anti-slavery movement in England, the group made several visits to perform Christian songs. Following their initial performance, Queen Victoria expressed her appreciation by remarking, “Tell them we are delighted with their songs.”

The present two advertisements advertise two performances in Streatham on December 16 and 17, 1897. Since 1872, Streatham had become known for its musical events or “Foreigner’s Fete,” organized by the London City Mission and featuring musicians of diverse backgrounds, including people of African, Asian, and Middle Eastern descent. These events attracted public interest, especially with the popularity of international exhibitions and the presence of individuals from Great Britain’s colonies.

References: Cf.: (Paul Oliver, Black Music in Britain, 1990, pp. 11, 31)