Charleston 7/37

July 15, 1937 to July 16, 1937
Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Recording of Rosa Warren Wilson's "Plantation Echoes" program, at Charleston's Hibernian Hall, described by John or Ruby Lomax as "A Folk Play In Three Acts written and directed by Rosa Warren Wilson—cast, Negroes from Wadmalaw Island." Only two of these acts were recorded, and were identified as "Tuesday Night In Dixie, A Spiritual Meeting" (AFS 1048A1–1051B3) and "Act II—Plantation Twilight Burial" (AFS 1052A1–1054B2; 1304). It is unclear whether the former was Act I or III. The only participant positively identified is "Uncle" Caesar Roper, who who is almost certainly singing on every ensemble track, although he is only listed here for those on which he was credited in the AFS catalog. The program consisted of spirituals, sermons, prayers, stories; Lomax also recorded several sacred pieces, dances (unaccompanied and instrumental), and personal narratives by cast members. Ms. Wilson offers commentary (some highly problematic) throughout. For a discussion of Wilson, the Wadmalaw Island singers and their repertoire, as well as the local connection to George Gershwin and "Porgy and Bess," see https://main.oxfordamerican.org/magazine/item/1870-my-father-is-a-witness.
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