The Fisk Jubilee Singers and Harvard Glee Club recently collaborated for the first time in their long histories, performing together in Nashville. Both choirs are among the most renowned collegiate groups in the United States, with Harvard’s Glee Club established in 1858 and the Fisk Jubilee Singers in 1871.
The Harvard Glee Club, known as the oldest collegiate choir in the nation, has been a pioneering force in U.S. university choirs. Meanwhile, the Fisk Jubilee Singers gained international acclaim for their performances of African American spirituals, having first toured Europe in 1873. Despite their histories, the two choirs had never performed together until this spring.
Andrew Clark, Harvard’s director of choral activities, noted the historical significance of the event, expressing surprise that such a collaboration had never occurred before. The two-day gathering at Fisk University was a highlight of the Glee Club’s tour of the American South in March.
G. Preston Wilson Jr., director of the Jubilee Singers, emphasized the value of the groups spending time together beyond rehearsals. He noted that it provided an opportunity for students to connect, which enhances the meaning of their performances.
The visit featured a “choral share,” allowing each group to work under the other’s conductor. Preston McNulty Socha, the tour manager for the Harvard Glee Club, admired the Jubilee Singers’ cohesion and their ability to perform without a conductor.
At a packed concert in Nashville, the choirs performed their own pieces as well as two joint numbers, including “Witness” and “Due Glory,” composed by Yale professor Braxton Shelley. Shelley, who has ties to both choirs, participated in the performance alongside his friend Wilson.
Wilson expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, hoping it would increase awareness of the Jubilee Singers and Fisk University. He encouraged people to engage with the choir and its history beyond the written word.
This concert is part of a series of collaborations between the Harvard Glee Club and historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Andrew Clark hopes the Jubilee Singers will visit Harvard soon, a sentiment echoed by Wilson, who is eager to accept an invitation.
Original Source: news.harvard.edu
