Music and Some Highly Musical PeopleTrotter, James M.
History
Music and Some Highly Musical People
Trotter, James M.
African American musicians -- Biography; African Americans -- Music
_Mrs. Dr. G.F. Grant_ (_nee_ Georgina Smith), formerly the efficient
organist of the North Russell-street Church, has been regarded as a
most pleasing vocalist, possessing a very pure, sweet soprano-voice.
She was for some time a pupil of the New-England Conservatory of
Music; and on more than one occasion was chosen to represent at its
quarterly concerts, before large and cultivated audiences in Music
Hall, the system taught and fine progress made by the attendants of
that institution. On such occasions, her _naivete_, her graceful,
handsome stage-appearance, and expressive rendering, with voice of
bird-like purity, of some of the best _cavatina_ music, always
elicited the most enthusiastic plaudits and recalls. The writer was
fortunately present on one of these occasions, and remembers with much
satisfaction the delight he felt, not only in hearing this lady's
melodious voice himself, but in witnessing its charming effect on an
audience of nearly four thousand people, representing generally
Boston's best culture. Her reception really amounted to an ovation.
The event was a most remarkable one, and, exhibiting as it so fully
did the power of art to scatter all the prejudices of race or caste,
was most instructive and re-assuring.
Of her appearance at one of the concerts just mentioned "The Boston
Globe" thus spoke:--
... "Miss Smith, a fine-looking young lady, achieved a like
success in all her numbers and in fine presence on the
stage, and in her simple, unobtrusive manner, winning the
sympathies of the audience."
And "The Boston Journal" said,--
"An immense audience, in spite of the storm and the wretched
condition of the streets, assembled in Music Hall yesterday
evening to listen to the quarterly concert of the
New-England Conservatory of Music. The spacious hall was
packed in every part. The most marked success during the
evening was that won by Miss Georgina Smith, who has a fine
soprano-voice, and who sang in a manner which could but
receive the warmest plaudits."
Miss Smith was a member of the chorus, composed of selected singers,
that sang at the memorable "International Peace Jubilee Concert," and,
although still quite young, has had an experience as a vocalist of
which she may well be proud.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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