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Daily Gleaner, November 29, 1890 The Chiel's Note Book I am glad to see that excellent band of singers, the Kingston Choral Union, will give a concert in the Conversorium in aid of the feeding fund of the Jewish Alms House on Saturday next. Their past performances have been very enjoyable, and very creditable to them as a body, a result chiefly attained by the care evinced by their painstaking conductor Mr. Jackson. I hope the concert will be well patronised. |
The Jamaica Choir
The Kingston Choral Union, which was later known as the Jamaica Choir, started in some form in 1882, and until the years of World War I, it dominated, to a large extent, the popular music scene in Jamaica. Considering its significance at the time, it seems surprising that the Choir has been almost completely forgotten. Its disappearance from the collective memory is an indication of the importance of written sources in preserving the contemporary recollections of the people's institutions. References to the Kingston Choral Union/Jamaica Choir are minimal in books and journals of the period; it is only when one goes to the newspapers that it is possible to tease out the Choir's history. Many other aspects of Jamaican history have suffered the same fate, but it is only in the second half of the 19th-century that newspaper coverage becomes sufficiently broad as to make it possible to rediscover some of those aspects of our history which elude the official record. Clearly there are many aspects of our history which are beyond recovery, but that should not stop us from rescuing those aspects which are recoverable.
The Kingston Choral Union, which was later known as the Jamaica Choir, started in some form in 1882, and until the years of World War I, it dominated, to a large extent, the popular music scene in Jamaica. Considering its significance at the time, it seems surprising that the Choir has been almost completely forgotten. Its disappearance from the collective memory is an indication of the importance of written sources in preserving the contemporary recollections of the people's institutions. References to the Kingston Choral Union/Jamaica Choir are minimal in books and journals of the period; it is only when one goes to the newspapers that it is possible to tease out the Choir's history. Many other aspects of Jamaican history have suffered the same fate, but it is only in the second half of the 19th-century that newspaper coverage becomes sufficiently broad as to make it possible to rediscover some of those aspects of our history which elude the official record. Clearly there are many aspects of our history which are beyond recovery, but that should not stop us from rescuing those aspects which are recoverable.
This advertisement, which mentions no names, seems to be one of the earliest signs of the efforts of T. Ellis Jackson to develop a group of singers and instrumentalists in Kingston.
I have done research on the Kingston Choral Union, later known as the Jamaica Choir, for many years. This group existed in Kingston, Jamaica, from 1882 up to WWI, and was an entirely Black Jamaican organisation. Its most remarkable achievements were its tours of the UK in 1906, and 1907-8. The choir had a very extensive repertoire including classical, popular and Jamaican items. Some of the members of the choir of especial interest are - T. Ellis Jackson, director; Henry Nation, pianist; Adeline McDermott "Jamaica's Black Patti"; Carlton Bryan, bass and comic singer; J. Packer Ramsey, bass; C. Lipscombe Barnes, pianist and organist.
The only information I have seen on the choir, except in the old newspapers which are my main source, appears in work by Jeffrey Green.
I would be interested in any information anyone has on the group and its members; I had hoped to find that they had made recordings while in the UK, but have had no luck in that respect.
The only information I have seen on the choir, except in the old newspapers which are my main source, appears in work by Jeffrey Green.
I would be interested in any information anyone has on the group and its members; I had hoped to find that they had made recordings while in the UK, but have had no luck in that respect.
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