The jubilee period occurred from the late nineteenth and early twentieth century as a way for Black colleges to gain support for their financial hardships. Fisk University, also known as the Fisk Jubilee Singers, was the first university to establish a tour to provide a financial cushion. Because of this, the establishment of other university quartets helped to reinforce the popularity of quartets. The quartets consisted of male and female a capella ensemble of four to six voices that perform formal arrangements in close four-part harmony, with rhythmic style of singing. African-American quartets quickly caught attention, due to their musical styles; which incorporated blue notes, hocket, and melisma. Minstrel jubilee, community-based quartets, sacred harp, and gospel quartets are the different forms of quartets and they all expressed various styles of singing.
As time progressed, the commodification of quartets led to radio broadcasting, touring, and a crossover phenomena. In the twentieth century, the quartet evolved into a sub-genre of gospel music and assisted with the evolution of secular and sacred music.
Quartet competitions also known as song battles originated in the 1940s. These contests functioned to promote and maintain high standards of quartet musical performance, to define and validate black cultural aesthetics and values, and finally to provide a forum for sharing collective expressive behavior in the community. They were held in Churches, high schools, universities, and other community gathering center. The contestants were awarded audience admiration or trophies while larger contests were publicized and sponsored by individuals who sought profit. Groups that were involved in these competitions were The Fairfield Four, The Dixie Hummingbirds, Flying Clouds of Detroit, and Golden Gate Quartet.
Sam Cooke, Dinwiddie Colored Quartet, Dixie Hummingbirds, Willie Dixon, Fairfield Four, Five Blind Boys, Georgia Minstrels, Golden Gate Quartet, Pilgrim Travelers, Soul Stirrers, Wheat Street Female Quartet, and Zion Harmonizers
The Walls Group Based in Houston Texas, The Walls Group formed in 2009 by their parents Roger and Alicia Walls who are two amazing singers
The Transnational Movement of Jubilee Quartets After the negro spiritual period, the jubilee period splits into three sections, jubilee (1880-1929), transitional (1930-45), and gospel (1946-49).
Can Jubileeve It? Thesis Jubliee quartets are an important part of African-American music because they broke barriers and created space for African-American artists to compete
A cappella vocal groups are also called jubilee quartets because of the characteristics of performance style. They often consisted of men; they had a developed,
The Soul Stirrers: Jubilee Quartet Origins of Jubilee Quartet and Jubilee Singing The Jubilee style of singing started in the 1870’s when the Fisk Jubilee
Norfolk Jubilee Quartet Background Reigning from the Tidewater area in Virginia, the Norfolk Jubilee Quartet made an incredible mark on the Jubilee Quartet genre. Also
Written by Kori Barnes, Kaila Crosse, and Naomi Gross
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