Musical Practices of Early Black Americans

Frederick Law Olmsted, Journey in the Seabord Slave States. New York, 1856, 551-2.

no

unclear. "Seven negroes" on the street.

solo + group, vocal harmony

male voices

some whistling

walking down the street

"sentimental," similar sound as a strolling group of [white] men in the North or in Germany

described as improvised

"sentimental," "learned at a concert or theater"

Claiborne, Alabama

In the principal street, I came upon a group of seven negroes, talking in lively, pleasant tones: presently, one of them commenced to sing, and in a few moments all the others joined in, taking different parts, singing with great skill and taste--better than I ever heard a group of young men in a Northern village, without previous arrangement, but much as I have heard a strolling party of young soldiers, or a company of students, or apprentices, in the streets of a German town, at night. After concluding the song, which was of a sentimental character, and probably had been learned at a concert or theatre, in the village, they continued in conversation, till one of them began to whistle: in a few moments all joined in, taking several different parts, as before, and making a peculiarly plaintive music. Soon after this, they walked all together, singing, and talking soberly, by turns, slowly away. I allowed them to pass me, but kept near them, until they reached a cabin, in the outskirts of the village. Stopping near this a few minutes, two of them danced the "juba," while the rest whistled and applauded. After some further chat, one said to the rest: "Come, gentlemen, let's go in and see the ladies," opening the door of the cabin. They entered, and were received by three negro girls, with great heartiness; then all found seats on beds, and stools, and chests, around a great wood fire, and when I passed again, in a few minutes, they were again singing.

In a chapter that describes Olmstead's journey from Savannah to New Orleans, stop by stop

Bias presented in this text is about average for nineteenth-century sources written by traveling white men.

https://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/olmsted/olmsted.html