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
the Luca family in this town--the writer has mentioned somewhat
particularly this instance, because he happened to be a witness of the
same--is but a sample of the treatment they often received in other
places while travelling over the country.
As representing the estimate of the musical abilities of the Luca
family, held by the general press of the country during their concert
tours, and in order that it may be seen that my own praises of the
family are none too great, I give the following notice from a fair and
disinterested source; viz., "The Niagara Courier" of Lockport, N.Y.,
of Sept. 2, 1857:--
"THE LUCA FAMILY.
"This company of singers, consisting of four [three]
brothers and their mother, gave a concert at Ringueberg Hall
last (Monday) evening; and their performance was such as to
elicit the enthusiastic approval of all present. Coming
among us as strangers, their merits were not generally
understood; and we presume that the entire audience were
agreeably disappointed in the entertainment presented. We
hazard nothing in saying that we have not had in our place
for years a concert which combined all the elements that
please the musical ear, and satisfy the cultivated taste, as
did this. The introductory piece, 'Fantasia,' from Lucia,
evinced the highest order of musical culture, the most
excellent taste, with that superior power of execution which
long practice only gives. The two brothers John and
Alexander have superb voices, guided by a correct knowledge
of music, and enriched by cultivation. Madame Luca was
laboring under indisposition; but she sang well, and gave
abundant assurance of superior vocal powers. But the great
feature of the entertainment was the performance of C.O.
Luca on the piano. With the exception of the celebrated
Mason, we have never had his superior as a pianist in
Lockport; and even he could not execute the pieces presented
with greater effect. There is music in his playing which we
seldom hear from the piano. It is not simply the striking of
the keys in order, emitting a succession of musical sounds;
but it is one continual flow of melody without interruption.
From the moment he first strikes the keys, the harmonious
melody gushes forth, note melts into note imperceptibly,
wave after wave of melody goes forth and mingles into one as
do the waves of the sea; and there is no breaking of the
majesty of its harmony until the last note is touched.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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