Negro Spirituals, Earliest American Folk Songs
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Why I'm making this page about Negro Spirituals
I'm making this page about Negro Spirituals because Negro Spirituals are both beautiful and meaningful and they form an important part of our American musical heritage. As Kim Ruehl points out in The History of American Folk Music, Negro Spirituals are the earliest form of Amrerican folk music. The Spirituals or "spiritual songs" are also an important part of Christian worship as they are so listed in the Bible in Ephesians 5:19. Thus, they should be a part of every Christian's life, no matter the color.
The origin Negro Spirituals
(info. gleaned from Wikipedia)
- 1Through the 19th century and much earlier, The term "spiritual song" was used often in Christian communities, both black and white .
- 2The term, "Negro spiritual" first appeared in print in the 1860s, describing saves as "using spirituals for religious songs sung sitting or standing in place, and spiritual shouts for more dance-like music."
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3Numerous rhythmical and sonic elements of Negro spirituals can be traced to African sources. Yet, Negro spirituals are a musical form indigenous and specific to the religious experience of Africans and their descendants in the United States The songs resulted from the interaction of music and religion originating in Africa with music and religion originating in Europe.
Read the Wikipedia article
more on the history of Negro Spirituals:
The religious significance of Negro Spirituals
"Negro spirituals" served primarily as expressions of the religious faith of a people. Some may also have been used for "socio-political protests veiled as assimilation to white American culture."Read the Wikipedia article
Take a listen to some Negro Spirituals
Too many to put all of them here
curated content from YouTube
Get this comprehensive recording:
First-Time Buyers Guide to American Negro Spirituals
Amazon Price: $4.53 (as of 06/02/2012)
Used Price: $4.08
The Title says it all. This is a 2CD set with 39 typical and famous Negro Spirituals. To see the song titles, click the title.
Release Date: 02/05/2007
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Did the Negro Spirituals contain coded messages?
(info. gleaned from Wikipedia)
Many popular books and internet sources state that Negro Spirituals had explicit directions for fleeing slaves on avoiding capture, and on routes to take to make their way to freedom. "Wade in the Water" allegedly recommends...going through water... to throw off pursuing bloodhounds. "Song of the Free," "The Gospel Train" and "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" are also supposed to contain veiled references to the Underground Railroad. Many sources claim that "Follow the Drinking Gourd" had a coded map to the Underground Railroad. Critics have challenged the authenticity of such claims, pointing to their "apparent lack of primary source material."Read the Wikipedia article
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More albums of Negro Spirituals
Get Negro Spirituals from iTunes
| Track | Artist | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elijah Rock | Moses Hogan | Negro Spirituals | |
| Wade In the Water | Moses Hogan | Negro Spirituals | |
| Soon Ah Will Be Done | Moses Hogan | Negro Spirituals | |
| Swing Low, Sweet Chariot | Moses Hogan | Negro Spirituals | |
| Ain't That Good News | Moses Hogan | Negro Spirituals | |
| I've Been 'Buked | Moses Hogan | Negro Spirituals | |
| Ride the Chariot | Moses Hogan | Negro Spirituals | |
| My Soul's Been Anchored In de Lord | Moses Hogan | Negro Spirituals | |
| Great Day | Moses Hogan | Negro Spirituals | |
| Amen | Moses Hogan | Negro Spirituals | |
| My Lord, What a Morning | Moses Hogan | Negro Spirituals | |
| He's Got the Whole World In His Hands | Moses Hogan | Negro Spirituals | |
| Lord, I Want to Be a Christian | Moses Hogan | Negro Spirituals | |
| Nobody Knows de Trouble I've Seen | Franco Ventriglia | Negro Spirituals | |
| Were You There When They Crucified My Lord | Franco Ventriglia | Negro Spirituals | |
| Lord, I Can't Turn Back | Moses Hogan | Negro Spirituals | |
| I Thank You, Jesus | Moses Hogan | Negro Spirituals |
OR from Amazon MP3:
Check out my favorite songs! I've handpicked these MP3s from Amazon. Take a listen. If you like, you can click to buy them on Amazon.
New Guestbook
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kab
May 21, 2012 @ 2:15 pm | delete
- I always liked Over My Head I Hear Music in the Air.
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waldenthree.net
Mar 5, 2012 @ 7:54 pm | delete
- The popular style of music today here in Metro DC Virginia is "Blues" , very much influenced by Negro Spirituals. Appreciating your topic. Congrads on your Squidoo Trophy. Conversation helps with new ideas and new topics. Thanks.
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quester
Feb 29, 2012 @ 3:04 pm | delete
- This music is both uplifting and sad. I love the spirituals whether they are sung in a church or on stage - they bring us all closer to God
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shermanmorrison
Feb 16, 2012 @ 6:03 am | delete
- Great lens about an extremely important form of traditional music. I sing quite a few of these myself. My favorities are By an' By; Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley; and Deep River. Thanks for sharing!
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kelli320
Sep 23, 2011 @ 5:28 pm | delete
- Very interesting lens, I learned some new info today. Thanks!
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MTF-briguy
Feb 16, 2011 @ 3:09 am | delete
- Love the video of the Negro Spirituals!
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iijuan12
Feb 15, 2011 @ 10:01 pm | delete
- This was quite interesting! I loved singing negro spirituals in my college choir. Thank you for posting this and bringing back some good memories.
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