African American Spirituals 3rd Quarter

Topic/Objective: African American Spirituals Name: Class: Date: Essential Question: How have the roles of African American Spirituals evolved through history?

Each song has an identifiable composer Questions Spirituals: religious folk songs created and first sung by African Americans in slavery composers unknown Black gospel music originated in the churches of the urban North in the 1920's Each song has an identifiable composer Examples of Spirituals "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot“ "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho" "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child" "Wade in the Water“ “Deep River

celebrate virtually every event in tribal life Questions African Foundations African communities placed functional music at the center of their daily lives celebrate virtually every event in tribal life routine work, commerce or social discourse major life events, such as birth, marriage or participation in war singing, dancing, drumming

The Transition to North America Questions The Transition to North America slaves were fascinated with Biblical stories, which paralleled many of their own experiences late 1700's, this fascination was reflected in the spiritual songs spirituals also evolved to express and consolidate their new religious faith worship often took place in secret meetings at night Sometimes signaled by the singing of spirituals

Music Serving Many Functions Questions Music Serving Many Functions primarily expressed deeply held religious convictions reflected deep longings for freedom secret codes or messages imbedded in the lyrics songs underscored the idea that one must never be "free" to mistreat others beginning to experience their right to be included in the definition of "American"

The Spirituals After Slavery continued as part of worship Questions The Spirituals After Slavery continued as part of worship Many African Americans who wanted to leave spirituals behind, reminded them of slavery Fisk (University) Jubilee Singers: 1870's started a new interest in concert spirituals peaked during the Harlem Renaissance: 1920s- gospel started to replace spirituals in Black churches spirituals continued to be performed in secular concert settings influenced other areas of the performing arts: dance, jazz, and the blues

The Freedom Songs of the Civil Rights Movement Questions The Freedom Songs of the Civil Rights Movement revival of the spirituals came during the Black-led U.S. freedom movement of the 1950's and 60's Many of the new freedom songs, were old spirituals with new lyrics "We Shall Overcome“ freedom songs based on spirituals also made their way into struggles for democracy in Russia, Eastern Europe, China and South Africa

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