Introduction
Understanding this tradition
Spirituals are religious songs created by Africans who are enslaved and their descendants in the United States. The modern gospel is then born from the traditions of the Black Church, blues, anthems and urban innovations. They are related, but not a single timeless genre.
First listening
Three things to hear
- Follow the dialogue between soloist and assembly.
- Listen to how the same sentence gains in intensity by repetition.
- Compare a 19th century spiritual and a 20th century gospel.
History and transmission
Oral transmission, religious meetings, ring shouts and black churches have shaped these repertoires. Fisk Jubilee Singers have helped to promote spiritual knowledge since the 19th century. In the 20th century, Thomas A. Dorsey, Mahalia Jackson and many choirs established gospel as a major spiritual and popular art.
What does it look like?
Call and answer, improvisation, progressive intensification, harmonic richness, body beat and participation of the assembly. An interpretation can range from the song to cappella retained to a celebration carried by organ, bass and drums.
Where and why are we listening?
Music makes sense in the history of slavery, segregation, black churches and civil rights struggles. Spectacular emotion must not hide this history or the community function.
Artists, works and albums
Three listening doors
Each button opens a search targeted on an external platform. Orabel does not read, copy and host any audio files.
Wade in the Water
Fisk Jubilee Singers
A landmark to hear the choral heritage of the spirituals.Take My Hand, Precious Lord
Mahalia Jackson
An interpretation that has become emblematic of Gospel prayer.Amazing Grace
Aretha Franklin
A historic meeting between voice, choir, assembly and gospel of church.Listen and transmit with respect
Crediting African American communities and avoiding presenting these songs as mere universal standards detached from the oppression, faith and resistance that have carried them.
Sources