african american religious music Essay -- essays research papers fc

African American religious euphony is the foundation of all contemporary forms of so called raw harmony. African American religious harmony has been a fundamental exposit of the black suffer in this dry land. This common staple of the African American experience can be traced back to the cruel system of slavery. It hence evolved into what we refer to today as gospel music. The goal of this paper is to conclude three main questions. What are the origins of African American religious music? How did this musical expression develop into a secular form of music? What is the future of African American religious music? These questions will be closureed through factual research of African American traditions, artists, and various other sources.The origins of African American religious music are directly linked to the Negro spirituals of enslaved Africans. One cannot research religious music of blacks in this country without first exploring these spirituals. The spirituals were pa rt of a religious expression that enslaved people utilise to transcend the narrow limits and dehumanizing effects of slavery. It was through the performance of the spirituals that the individual and the partnership experienced their God, a God who affirmed their humanity in shipway whites did not and a God who could set them free both spiritually and physically. These sacred poems were also used as secret communication. That is not to state that all spirituals chromosome mappinged as coded pro try out songs or as some illuminate of secret language. The structure of the spirituals and the way in which they were created and performed allowed for flexibility in their function and meaning. The primary function of the Negro spirituals was to serve as communal song in a religious gathering, performed in a call and result pattern reminiscent of West African traditional religious practices. During these ceremonies, one person would begin to create a song by interpret about his or her own sorrow or joy. That individual experience was brought to the community and through the call and response structure of the singing, that individuals sorrow or joy became the sorrow or joy of the community. In this way, the spiritual became truly affirming, for it provided communal support for individual experiences. Slaves used the characters of the bible, particularly the Old Testament,... ...erself expanded gospels exposure when she appeared twice on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Meanwhile, television producer Bobby Jones reaches four and a one-half million viewers each week with his BET program, church doctrine Explosion. However, the test for Gospel music reflects one that all Christian musicians must wrick with Can Gospel continue to increase its fortune in the mainstream grocery store while still maintaining its spiritual base? Despite what you believe the answer to be, African American Religious music will continually evolve. Since doubting Thomas Dorsey first s tretched the boundaries to create gospel music, choirs, quartets, and power vocalists have been singing the said(prenominal) song, albeit in different styles and places. As African American religious music continues to grow beyond even Dorseys expectations, one can exclusively hope that it will be embraced regardless of how it is labeled by everyone who demand to be reminded of the good news it represents.Bibliography1. Score Magazine, May 2002 edition2. Gospel Today Magazine. August 2003.3. http//afgen.com/gospel4. http//www.americangospelquartet.org5. http//www.jcchorus.com/