The opening chorus, “Help, Lord! Wilt Thou quite destroy us?” was so full of pathos and of pleading that it seemed to subdue and quiet the whole audience. Indeed, the silence that prevailed throughout the entire rendering testified to the interest felt. When they sang, “Lord! bow thine ear to our prayer!” the breathless stillness in the house made us feel that much of real prayer was there, and we wondered if hearts that had never before felt God’s presence might not be touched by His spirit. Then came the wild cry of the priests of Baal, loud and long and despairing, with the mocking of Elijah, who says, “Call him louder, for he is a God.” A few times the audience broke into applause, but generally expressed themselves by quiet attention.
Probably the style of music was new to many of them, and it was interesting to watch the faces of different ones as they listened. Some were at first perhaps disappointed, evidently not expecting that kind of music, but a growing and deepening interest marked their faces as they sat watching as well as listening.
When Elijah pleaded for rain, and the people cried, “Help, send thy servant help, O God!” “Hear from heaven, and forgive their sin,” the listening attitude of the audience seemed to express sympathy with the sad refrain, and when, at last, the grand chorus, “Thanks be to God,” burst forth, it was almost overwhelming. What a lifting up of voices it was! it with a piercing sweetness that rent the air and bowed all hearts before it.
The second part of the concert consisted of Jubilee songs, college songs, and patriotic songs, more popular music, but to some of us it was a letting down from the heights to which we had been lifted. It was received, however, with demonstrations of delight, which could not have been expressed for the first part, if it had been felt. Almost everything was encored. The college songs were full of rollicking fun, and the Jubilee music brought rounds of applause again and again.
When “Good news, the chariot’s coming,” and “Silver Slippers” were sung, the dignified legislators got to beating time with their feet in real camp-meeting style.
“Way down upon the Suwanee River” was sung with a softness and sweetness that reminded one of Jenny Jackson in the old Jubilee days. It was listened to with breathless attention and followed by prolonged applause.
The concert closed with “America,” beautiful and grand, as it always is. The whole audience rose to their feet and joined with a heartiness which showed that the “old time” has indeed “gone,” and “new times” for the South, white and black, are already here.
H. M.