Women of distinction/Chapter 88
CHAPTER LXXXVIII.
MRS. SISSIERETTA JONES.
("THE BLACK PATTI").
Perhaps one of the marvels of the nineteenth century is to be found in the person of Mrs. Sissieretta Jones, who has been well styled "the great colored prima donna." and has been often called "The Black Patti." It may not be going too far to say that she might more appropriately be called the great American prima donna. This most wonderful product of the negro race needs no special introduction at our hands to the reading and inquisitive people in the larger cities of Central and South America. As popular as she is, however, there are a great many thousands of all races who, quite naturally, know nothing of her. In this particular case we shall leave it to the press of the country to speak of her more knowingly and, therefore, more strongly than the author can possibly do. Up to our going to press we have been able to learn but little of her early life and education, but clip the following from an advertising sheet, which we offer upon its merit, since it is over the name of Major J. B. Pond, who was her manager in the great Madison Square Garden Concert in New York City:
Sissieretta Jones was born on January 5, 1868, at Portsmouth, Virginia, being twenty-four years of age at present writing, and in her fourth year her father and mother, Jerry and Henrietta Joyner, left Virginia and settled down in Providence, R. I., where they are still living. When a mere girl, Mrs. Jones evinced a great taste for music, and at the age of fifteen years she commenced her instrumental lessons at the Academy of Music, Providence, R. I., of which Mr. Monros and Baroness Lacombe, the latter an eminent Italian musician, were tutors.
At eighteen she commenced vocal training at the New England Conservatorium in Boston. She made such rapid strides in her studies that those who heard her sing at some private entertainments pronounced her as America's future colored Queen of Song, and in 1887 she was asked to sing at a grand concert in aid of the Parnell Defense Fund, on which occasion the audience numbered upwards of 5,000; she sang next in the Boston Music Hall, where she received the highest encomiums from her hearers. A grand star concert was next given by Mr. J. G. Burgeon, at which all of the best American colored singers took part; on this occasion she again distinguished herself, from which time she has been considered the brightest singer of her race in America. In 1888 she commenced her professional career at Wallack's Theatre, a place where no other colored singer had been privileged to shine. It was here that Mr. William Riesen, a famous musical director in New York, hearing of her wonderful voice, called to hear her sing; after doing so he telegraphed to Mr. Henry Abbey, of the firm of Abbey and Schoeffel Grau, managers to Adelina Patti, Henry Irving, Ellen Terry, and all the greatest notables, when on American tours, telling that he had found a "phenomenal singer," and instantly Abbey sent an agent to secure her for a West Indian tour. Before proceeding on her mission she sang in New York before all the newspaper critics. The Times said she was a phenomenal singer and that she had no equal in her race; the Sun said she was a great singer, who in a few years would surpass some of the world's greatest singers; the Herald predicted a great future for her; and the Providence Journal said she would be a credit to her race and would do honor to any stage on which she sung. The New York Clipper gave a glowing account of her and was the first paper that described her as the "Black Patti."
On 29th July, 1888, she started on her West Indian tour, paying a visit to Jamaica, where she commanded two months of great success in Kingston. It was here that Mrs. Jones received her first decoration—a gold medal inlaid with pearls and rubies. The tour lasted eight months, during which time she sang in all the principal colonies, being recognized as the greatest lyric star of her race, and was the recipient of several other beautiful decorations. On her return home at Providence she was feted in a grand style by her numerous friends. She returned to Madame Lacombe for further study. Then came an Australian manager, who offered her great prices to go to Australia, but she declined his offers, as she had promised to return to the West Indies, where she was greatly delighted with her success. Mrs. Jones has received more presents and testimonials in the various places in which she has sung than any other prima donna was ever honored with, and whenever she appears in public her breast is seen brilliantly illuminated with some of the most chaste medals extant. The following are the cities where she received gold medals, with the dates: Kingston, Jamaica (with pearls and rubies), September 2, 1888; Colon, November 3, 1888; Barbadoes, November 26, 1888; Port of Spain, Trinidad, December 18, 1888; San Fernando, Trinidad, December 15, 1888; Detnerara, December 28, 1888; Surinam, January 7, 1889; French Society, Port an Prince, December 10, 1890; Citizens of Cape Haytien, January 5, 1891, and presented by the President, before whom she sung, a purse of gold of 1900; St. Thomas, January, 1891, four pearls, one emerald, one ruby and one large diamond; G. U. O. Odd Fellows of St. Thomas, January 9, 1891. A medal from the citizens of Grenada is in course of preparation against her return to that island.
Mrs. Jones is an American girl, reared and educated in Providence, R. I. She returned from South America in February last, and has since given five concerts in New York, five in Brooklyn, seven in Baltimore, two in Washington (one in the White House, for the President of the United States, his household, members of the Cabinet and members of the foreign legation), two in Jersey Cit% two in Philadelphia. Invariably the houses have been packed to their fullest capacity. The following press testimonials tell the true story of her wonderful success. The printed reports that Mrs. Jones has sung in Europe, Australia and California are untrue. She is but twenty-four years of age, and has never traveled or been heard anywhere except in Central and South American countries, the West Indies and the American cities above quoted.—J. B. Pond.
The richness of the negro's singing voice has long been recognized, and the belief has been expressed that were such a voice cultivated and trained an artist of exceptional worth would be the result. The only doubt as to the success of such an undertaking has arisen from the fear that the process of schooling the voice might rob it of those natural qualities which lend it a peculiar charm.
A singer appeared in Central Music Hall last night, however, who set at rest all such doubt and confirmed the belief in no slight measure.
The singer was Mrs. Sissieretta Jones, a colored woman, whose work upon the concert stage has won for her the title "The Black Patti." She was heard in the Page's song from "The Huguenots," an aria from "L'Africaine," and as encores "Comin' Thro' the Rye," "Bobo-link Song," "The Cows are in the Clover," and "Every Rose Has Its Thorn."
The first aria sufficed to show that her voice is indeed phenomenal, of extended range, of great volume, and of wonderful richness. The peculiar plaintive quality that is ever present in the negro voice is still there, and it exerted a charm in every number sung by Mrs. Jones last evening.—Chicago Tribune, Friday, January 6, 1893. The second concert of Mrs. Sissieretta Jones, the "Black Patti," attracted a large and enthnsiastic audience at Central Music Hall last night. The great richness and sympathetic quality of the voice of this singer grows upon one. Her selections were "Robert, toi que j'aime," from Meyerbeer's "Robert le Diable," and Gelli's "Farfella Waltz." She sang the aria with so much feeling and expression that one can overlook deficiencies in vocalization and method. In the encore numbers she made a great success. She sang "Comin' Thro' the Rye," "Bobolink," and "Snwanee River." She carried her audience fairly by storm with the latter. She sang with a wonderful depth of feeling, and the exquisite quality of her voice is admirably suited to the plaintive melody. This simple song has been sung in Chicago many times by the greatest artists, and it is but justice to Mrs. Jones to say that she excels them all in this one song.—Chicago Times, Saturday, January 7, 1893.
Another incident of interest in the week of music was the appearance of Mrs. Sissieretta Jones, the "Black Patti." This woman comes as the first vocalist of her race to whom a place in the ranks of artistic singers may be accorded. She has been endowed by nature with a voice that in any throat would be remarkable for its great range and volume, but which, with her, possesses even greater attractiveness by reason of its having also the wonderful richness and fullness and the peculiar timbre that lend the negro singing voice its individuality. The tones in the lower and middle registers are of surpassing beauty, and those of the upper are remarkable for their clear, bell-like quality. Another striking element of the voice is its plaintiveness. In every note Mrs. Jones sang in her concerts here that one quality was unfailingly present. In the arias, i ballads, comic or sentimental, it was noticeable, and it soon became evident that it was the most individualizing element in the voice, and that no amount of schooling or training could eradicate it. Not that one would desire to have it eradicated. It is the heritage the singer has received from her race, and it alone tells not only of the sorrows of a single life, but the cruelly sad story of a whole people. It lends to her singing of ballads an irresistible charm, making her work in this kind of music as artistically satisfactory as it is enjoyable.—Chicago Tribune, Sunday , January S, 1893.
Mrs. Jones possesses a wonderful vocal organ of extraordinary compass and distinct in enunciation.—New York Evening Telegram. Mrs. Jones has taken New York by storm, and showed she is a great singer.—New York Clipper.
She is the greatest singer that ever sung in Jersey City. The applause that greeted her would make even the great Patti happy.—Evening Journal, Jersey City.
She sings like Patti, without the slightest visible effort, her voice is well cultivated, her high notes enable her to effectually render the most difficult compositions, and her low tone is peculiarly deep, intense and masculine.—New York World.
It has been truly said that the great colored soprano stands without an equal in her race, and few in any race.—New York Times.
Recalled again and again she sang "The Cows are in the Clover" very effectively, her upper notes being especially sweet. She received an ovation.—New York Herald, April 17, 1892.
Her voice coming from a skin as white as her teeth would be counted the wonder of all lands—it is a strong and beautiful voice, that sounds with the steadiness of a trumpet. Though it does not ring with passion it shakes your heart.—The Sun, Friday, April 29, 1892.
It is an indisputable fact that she possesses a most wonderful vocal organ of extraordinary compass, exceeding sweetness and a delightfully perfect, distinct enunciation. "Black Patti" was given an enthusiastic reception when she appeared. She sang a cavatina by Meyerbeer smoothly and well. Her voice is sweet and tender, and has a pleasing mezzo strain in it.—Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 15, 1892.
She appeared and sang as only she can, and her reception was one continuous round of applause, stilled only as her voice was heard.—Buffalo Courier, Monday, November 15, 1892.
Mrs. Jones is quite a marvel as a colored cantatrice. Her upper notes are phenomenally clear and pure, and she has many of the arts of the leading prima donnas. She was received with great cordiality.—The Syracuse Standard, Syracuse, November 12, 1892.
Her voice is a fine soprano, particularly full and sweet in the upper register. She possesses a good presence, and as "Aida" or as "Selika" in "L'Africaine" would undoubtedly create a sensation.—The Philadelphia Press, Saturday, December 3, 1892.
MRS. LUCIE JOHNSON SCRUGGS.
She has a musical voice of extraordinary compass and even power, and of a really remarkable quality, and she sings with ease and fluency and with a distinct English enunciation, and with a repose of manner that inspires confidence.—The Times, Philadelphia, December 3, 1892.
Sissieretta Jones may truly be called "The Black Oueen of Song." Her voice, so rich, resonant, powerful, 3-et sweet, held her delighted listeners, who demanded repeated encores.—Boston Post, Monday Morning, November 28, 1892.
Sissieretta Jones possesses a remarkable degree of talent. Her enunciation is excellent and her voice one of much brilliancy and power. She was tendered an ovation at the close of her first number. —Boston Journal, Monday, November 28, 1892.
She sings with artistic taste and feeling.—Public Ledger, Philadelphia, Saturday, December 3, 1892.
The wide range and power of her voice were noticeable.—Philadelphia Public Ledger, Monday Morning, December 5, 1892.