Jubilee quartet facts for kids
Jubilee quartets were popular African-American religious singing groups. They were famous in the early 1900s. The name "Jubilee" comes from the Fisk Jubilee Singers. This group started at Fisk University in 1871. Their leader, George L. White, formed them to sing Negro spirituals.
The first Fisk Jubilee Quartet sang from 1909 to 1916. Its members were Alfred G. King, James A. Myers, Noah W. Ryder, and John W. Work II. Other historically black schools also formed similar groups. These included Hampton Institute, Tuskegee Institute, and Wilberforce University. Many other singing groups, like the Original Nashville Students, were also inspired by the Fisk Jubilee Singers.
What Was the Early Jubilee Style?
Early jubilee quartets sang with voices very close together. This is called "close harmonies." They used formal arrangements for their songs. Their singing style was "flatfooted." This meant they sang with a calm and controlled sound. They used musical techniques from Western traditions.
These early groups wanted to look respectable. They wore uniforms like a university glee club. They also did not encourage singers to make up parts as they went along. This is called improvisation.
How Jubilee Music Changed
Over time, jubilee singing became very popular. It spread from universities to black churches. Quartets began singing for audiences who loved to show their excitement. This helped the groups take on the energy and freedom of Gospel music. Gospel music was becoming popular from Holiness churches.
Groups like the Golden Gate Quartet changed their style. They were first called the Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet. They added rhythmic beats from blues and jazz to their spirituals. They also started singing gospel songs written by Thomas A. Dorsey and others. The Golden Gate Quartet and other jubilee groups became famous across the country. They did this through radio shows, records, and tours in the 1930s and 1940s.
The Rise of Hard Gospel
Other groups took the new style even further. These included the Dixie Hummingbirds and the Original Five Blind Boys of Alabama. The Five Blind Boys were first known as the Happyland Jubilee Singers. These groups started with the usual jubilee style. But they created a new, more exciting way of singing. It involved more improvisation and strong feelings. This style became known as "hard Gospel." By the 1950s, hard Gospel singing was much more popular than the older jubilee style.
