Big Blog American roots

 

    Being that I was once a high school choir member, I have had quiet the exposure to African - American spirituals. Many young and even professional choirs perform these spirituals. They are upbeat, creative and use instruments that may be a little foreign to us. At any choral concert I have been at, the spirituals have always been the audiences favorite.  These songs have really made their mark in American choirs all around. The personal favorite that I have performed is called Wade in the Water arranged by Moses Hogan. 

  

They were usually sung in a call and response form with improvisation.  The vocal work was very free styled and rhythms that were a challenge for early documenters to write accurately. The sorrow songs are more intense, a song that represents this would be "Sometimes I feel like a motherless child." The more religious pieces are very syncopated, fast, and rhythmic.  This  article  gives more detail into the musical structure.

African American spirituals and many African music has made it's way into American music. I see a lot of use of this music in choir music than anything. To get back on the spiritual " Steal away to Jesus," here is a recording of my favorite adaptation of these piece. I was lucky enough to be able to perform this in high school. This is a good example of how this music has been adapted into American music.

I like how looking into this, I see once again music that has been from the bottom and come up. This music just started as a way for slaves to get through the suffering they were bestowed. Luckily, this music has become something very well done in today's time. It is wonder we get to acknowledge what these people went through. We get to use music as a way to voice to what one day was the voiceless.