Portland Observar Section II February 28.1981 Page 11
consolation when I was sad... it would sing me a song o f
peace. "
Freedom was gained by the reverse process o f having
friendly help to return North.
I f N orthrup’ s repertoire included “ Negro” songs o f
the era, he may well have played music that had been
disseminated by a unique group o f slave w o rkers/
entertainers: the Black watermen
As noted earlier, worksongs were important to main­
tain a rhythm for the task being performed as well as to
maintain spirits. Blacks were firemen and food handlers
on the boats, and stevedores on land. They moved along
the Eastern seaboard and all o f the m ajor rivers:
Mississippi, Ohio and Missouri. They moved as far west
as Omaha, Nebraska, south to the G u lf Coast, and all
along the East Coast. When their work day was over,
the boatmen were often called upon to entertain the
passengers with a show during dinner, and dance music
afterwards. Because these workers/slaves “ enjoyed”
the greatest m o b ility, it is entirely possible that they
may be responsible for disparate segments o f the Black
population throughout the States having knowledge o f
the same songs. The handicap o f slavery, then, truly
produced a universal language in song.
THOMAS GREENE BETHUNE (1849-1908), known
as “ Blind T om " suffered a double handicap, for he was
born sightless to a slave named C ha rity W iggins in
Columbus, Georgia. When his mother was sold to a
Colonel Bethune, Tom was “ thrown-in” the purchase.
Before long, it was discovered that he could duplicate
on the piano any music to which he had listened. As is
common in individuals who must compensate fo r a
missing sense, he early developed his very sensitive ear
and memory for music performed in his presence. The
discovery o f this “ g ift" by Bethune was capitalized on
by the owner and his family.
Tom's career began when he was but eight years old
and presented in a recital in Savannah by his master. In
the first year o f the C ivil War, he was required to per­
form in several concerts for the aid o f veterans o f the
Confederate Army.
He performed at the W hite House; throughout the
United States and in the European capitals. His exten­
sive repertoire included selections from the music o f the
masters: Bach, Beethoven, C hopin, Mendelssohn,
Rossini; from H eller, Liszt, G ottschalk. Hoggman,
Thalbert; operatic arias from Verdi, Bellini, Gounod -
popular ballads o f the day; in short, anything that had
been written and he had heard, he duplicated precisely.
It was w ritten by Trotter that he could duplicate over
seven thousand musicl compositions.
At times, his recitals assumed a somewhat carnival
air. Three pianos would be placed on stage. While two
pianists were “ banging away” discordantly, at the third
piano, twenty notes were sometimes struck in rapid
isolation. Tom correctly produced notes precisely as
they had been delivered.
Another example o f his showmanship was indicated
when he prqceeded to play Yankee Doodle in B flat with
his right hand, Fisher’s Hornpipe in C with his left, sang
Tramp, Tramp, Tramp in another key; all in th eir
respective tempo and without effort. His owners also
invited members o f the audience to submit requests for
him to play, which he did w ith ease. To increase his
repertory, professionals were hired to play for him.
After the death o f Colonel Bethune in 1883, his son
took over T om ’ s management. Upon his death, his
widow and new husband, Albert Lerche became Tom's
agent. His last performance was in 1904. At the time o f
Tom’ s death in 1908, he had made several fortunes for
the Bethune family.
The Little Room
4934 N. Albina - 289-8044
Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield
1809-1876
( ailed the Bla< k Swan
the was Am erica » lin t
Rlatk singer of classical music
Grace Collins Memorial Center
128 N.E. Russell 281-6930
S TIME COE/ BY-A
ARTHURßXÄÜPWItfON
IAÄ6
1955
Jasper L. Ambers
A ttorney A t Law
7-6N. Alberta
ANTEBELLUM - NORTH
As noted, there was a continuing increase in the num-
Do not follow
'A
THE REAL OOhE ELLINGTON
CANE THROUGH IN HIS MORE
AMPTHOUS NORAS SUCH 45
HIS THREE SACREP CONCERTS:
THERE WAS REVEALEP THE COM­
POSER OF HH iH IN TEL L EC 1 ANO ,
TECHNICAL MASTER}: ANO PRO
FOUND SPIRIT UAL DEPTH. '
where the path may lead.
Booker T. Lewis
3133 N.E. Prescott
281-3010
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