| Main Performers | Roland Hayes,
Pfc. Kenneth Cantril,
Chaplain William Perkins - vocals |
| Orchestra or Band | London Symphony Orchestra |
| Conductors | T/Sergeant Hugo Weisgall,
Sergeant Alexander Jordan,
Private James McDaniel |
| Set List | 'Natchez On The Hill', John Powell (London Symphony Orchestra),
'Over My Head I See Trouble in The Air' (US Army Negro Chorus),
'Go Down, Moses', arr. Blitzstein (Roland Hayes, US Army Negro Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra),
'Sweet By and By', arr. Blitzstein (US Army Negro Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra),
'By And By' (Roland Hayes, US Army Negro Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra),
'When The Saints Go Marching In' (US Army Negro Chorus),
'Ain't-A Dat Good News' (US Army Negro Chorus),
'Ballad For Americans', Earl Robinson (US Army Negro Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, Pfc. Kenneth Cantril),
'I Know That My Redeemer Liveth' (Cantata No.160)', J S Bach (Roland Hayes, London Symphony Orchestra),
'O Peace Thou Fairest Child of Heaven', Thomas Arne (Roland Hayes, London Symphony Orchestra),
'Steal Away' (Chaplain William Perkins),
'Certainly Lord' (Chaplain William Perkins),
'I Can Tell The World About This' (Chaplain William Perkins),
'I Want To Die Easy' (US Army Negro Chorus),
'Lead Me' (US Army Negro Chorus),
'Fare Thee Well' (US Army Negro Chorus),
'Freedom Morning', Blitzstein (London Symphony Orchestra),
'Wade in The Water' (US Army Negro Chorus)
'Death's Gonna Lay His Cold Icy Hands On You' (US Army Negro Chorus),
'Deep River' (US Army Negro Chorus),
'Joshua Fit De Battle of Jericho' (Roland Hayes, US Army Negro Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra),
'The Star Spangled Banner',
'God Save the King' (The National Anthem) |
| Performance Notes | *Language Warning: Some of the racist language contained in this record some viewers may find offensive. For the historic record we have chosen not to remove or hide contentious language but instead retain and address its inclusion for research.
The event was held by the Daily Express newspaper, which had run an anti-segregation and anti-colour bar campaign on behalf of 'coloured American troops'. The black serviceman choir was originally put together by Private McDaniel from Kansas City as a quartet to sing spirituals and hymns they would have sung at church back home. Slowly the singing group grew to 200 men that made up the chorus that composer Blitzstein used for these two performance. American tenor Roland Hayes, who performed both nights, was a son of two former slaves and was well known to British audiences of the time.
Images available from Getty Images.
At the beginning of the evening and to the sound of rolling drums a single file of 200 black soldiers from a segregated division of the American Air Forces' Engineers marched onto the Hall's stage to be joined by renowned black lyric-tenor, Roland Hayes, who had travelled to England specifically for the occasion.
World premiere of 'Morning Freedom', a 'tone poem set to traditional negro spirituals and songs' composed by Corporal Marc Blitzstein.
"The most remarkable ceremony I have ever attended in that famous meeting place. The audience was in ecstasy... it was impossible to believe that the chorus had not sung together before in public."
(The Evening Standard, 29 September 1943)
"ALBERT HALL CONCERT.
NOVEL WORKS BY NEGRO CHOIR OF 200.
The concert organized by the United States Army and presented at the Albert Hall last night by the Daily Express is likely to be without parallel in the long and varied sequence of events that have taken place within its encircling walls. The mere fact that a choir of 200 voices drawn from American negro soldiers on service in this country contributed a substantial part of the programme is less remarkable than the revelation they afforded of what is truly indigenous in American music."
(The Times, 29 September 1943)
"U.S. NEGRO CHOIR.
The United States Army Negro Choir was eminently successful last night at the Daily Express Albert Hall concert in aid of Service charities. Especially notable was the quality of its tone, which seemed produced without the least effort.
Roland Hayes and the London Symphony Orchestra varied the programme, which included much that was thoroughly unconventional, like the "Ballad for Americans," in which the timing of speakers and singers was perfect."
(The Daily Telegraph, 29 September 1943)
"Until three months ago the boys had not sung together. For almost a year they had been hard at work building airfields. While they worked they sang songs strange to the English countryside - Come on you eartyh, lift yourself up or Saturday night, Saturday night, Saturday night';s a'comin' soon. Evenings they sang together in their tin Nissen huts and Pfc. James McDaniel from Kansas City, Mo., who had sung church duets with his mother assembled a quartet. The quartet sang nightly around his bed. Other boys joined them..." (Life Magazine, 8 November 1943) |
| Related Archival Material | Programme (RAHE/1/1943/121),
Digital Photographs,
B&W photograph of soldiers in the Chorus (RAHE/3/1943/2) |