| Share page | Visit Us On FB |
|
Plantation Melodies 61 |
||
|
|
||
|
The leading companies were Christy's Minstrels which had two separate engagements in Cincinnati in November 1846/ and again in August 1847;4 the Sable Harmonists, whose success was so great that they had March, April, and September appearances oi three days to a week in 1847,5 and likewise in August 18486 and in August 1849;7 and the Empire Minstrels who achieved a record of 59 performances in October, November and December 1849.8 Other companies of less fame appearing in Cincinnati in the years Stephen was there included the Sable Troubadours,9 "Kneass' Great Original Sable Harmonists,"10 "Daddy Rice/'11 and Campbell's Minstrels.12
There is a florid sameness in the newspaper references to these performances—probably due to press agent authorship. Here is a sample: "To those who have not had the pleasure of hearing them [the Sable Harmonists] we would remark that if they neglect the present opportunity they will miss one of the finest musical banquets of the day."13 A report clearly not supplied by a press agent was that of the Atlas, declaring that "the music of Kneass' Ethiopian Band on Thursday night was admirable. Some people think it is a vulgar taste, but vulgar or not we like the melodies of these Ethiopian singers/'14 |
||