The History of Gospel Music

2853 Words6 Pages

Music is an important aspect of every society. Music can tell stories, release emotions, build bridges and break down barriers, but above all music is entertaining. There are various forms of music but not many have as rich a history as gospel music. The importance of gospel music has been relevant in American music for more than a century and its importance to society is still relevant to this day (See Appendix A). Gospel music helped slaves escape to freedom and paved the way for other styles of music. It promotes a spirit of hope and provided an outlet to worship God. So how exactly has Gospel music impacted today’s society?

Music has been relevant in Christianity since its beginnings. Some of the first music was written in Latin and they were called Hymns. “Hymn is a song of praise” (Van Camp) and were sung only by catholic churches. When Martin Luther led the Protestant Reformation and helped create Protestant Christianity, he began translating hymns into German. All around Europe people were translating hymns into different languages. These translations were brought over by European settlers coming to America and were used frequently in both Catholic and Protestant churches.

Contemporary, as well as older, Gospel music originated from the “Spirituals.” The spirituals, also known as the “Negro Spirituals or African-American folk songs,” were religious songs sung by the African Americans slaves in Southern America. The spirituals spawned from teachings of Christianity from slave owners, the church and even hymns. The songs were usually about love, hope, peace, oppression, freedom and even used as a secret code. The African American slaves would sing while working so much so that slave o...

... middle of paper ...

...570

Appendix A

Timeline for Gospel Music

1619- First record of African slaves in Colonial America brought as indentured servants

1786- All states, except Georgia, ban or limit importation of African slaves

1798- Georgia bans importation of African slaves

1810- Underground Railroad helps slaves escape to free states

1861- American Civil War begins

1863- President Abraham Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation

1865- American Civil War ends

1867- Collections of spirituals published, songs known now as Gospel

1870- Students, called Fisk Jubilee Singers, perform spirituals across the nation

1920- Evangelistic Movement integrates styles of music with gospel

1947- Music style combining jazz, gospel and blues named Rhythm & Blues

1948- Rhythm & Blues helps shape Rock and Roll

1960- Twenty million Americans move from the South over a sixty year period

Show More
Related

  • James H. Cone's The Spirituals and the Blues

    1775 Words  | 4 Pages

    The book, The Spirituals and the Blues, by James H. Cone, illustrates how the slave spirituals and the blues reflected the struggle for black survival under the harsh reality of slavery and segregation. The spirituals are historical songs which speak out about the rupture of black lives in a religious sense, telling us about people in a land of bondage, and what they did to stay united and somehow fight back. The blues are somewhat different from in the spirituals in that they depict the secular aspect of black life during times of oppression and the capacity to survive. James H. Cone’s portrayal of how the spirituals and the blues aided blacks through times of hardship and adversity has very few flaws and informs the reader greatly about the importance of music in the lives of African-Americans. The author aims to both examine the spirituals and blues as cultural expressions of black people and to reflect on both the theological and sociological implications of these songs.

    Read More

  • Music In Lawrence Levine's 'The Quest For Certainty'

    1535 Words  | 4 Pages

    African-American slaves may not have had the formal education that many of their white slave owners possessed, but they intuitively knew that the labor they toiled through each and every day was unjust. This dynamic of unfairness brought about a mindset in which slaves would critique the workings of slavery. To many people’s understanding, slavery was an invasively oppressive institution; Levine however, noted, “for all its horrors, slavery was never so complete a system of psychic assault that it prevented the slaves from carving out independent cultural forms” . Slave spirituals were a part of the independent cultural form that enslaved African-Americans produced; these songs had numerous functions and critiquing slavery served as one of

    Read More

  • How Did The Swing Era Impact Society

    1252 Words  | 3 Pages

    Music’s role on society has changed drastically through the course of its history as it has become ever so increasingly expansive. Many of the previous musical movements were only for the wealthy as entertainment

    Read More

  • R & B Research Paper

    1234 Words  | 3 Pages

    Soul music was developed in the late 1950s from African American church music called Gospel music. After slavery ended in1865, African American were not welcomed in the church of White Americans, so they built their own churches and sang Christian songs with African American vocal styles and rhythm. As the civil rights movement, staged bigger and bigger demonstrations and increase in African American pride “Soul music” became more than party music for young blacks: it became a rallying flag for the Black nationalist movement. Soul music was born thanks to the innovations of continuous post-war musicians who essentially turned Gospel music into a secular form of

    Read More

  • The Evolution of Music in Black Music in America by James Haskins

    726 Words  | 2 Pages

    I have definitely learned a lot about the Evolution of Music in this class. I found it to be very intriguing. So when I was faced with the chore of deciding what I would do my report on, I chose to use the book Black Music in America by James Haskins. This book gave a detailed account of not only the music genres but it’s performers. American music is made up of music from many different types of ethnic backgrounds. What gives this book a plus is that it highlights aspects American music, and its performers. The people and events that really caught my attention were the concert singers, Minstrelsies, Jubilee songs, and brass bands. Born as a slave, a girl by the name of Elizabeth Greenfield moved to Philadelphia. She moved there with her Mistress and her parents. Luckily while in Philadelphia they were set free. At the age of forty-two she moved to buffalo New York in order to embark on new opportunities as a singer. When she reached New York opportunity came knocking. She began a career of concert singing. With a range of three and one quarter octaves you would think that opportunity kept knocking, but it didn’t. Therefore she moved to Europe where she would get the attention and credit that she deserved. While in Europe Elizabeth was shown great appreciation for her talent. Even Queen Victoria demanded that she performed for her at the Buckingham Palace. She gained newfound popularity in the states, because of her new accomplishments. As we know, it wasn’t easy for blacks to make a living in the U.S. That forced blacks to either perform in Europe or the northern states of the U.S. Some blacks even had to resort to performing in Minstrelsies. Minstrelsies...

    Read More

  • The ‘60s: Culture and Music

    1486 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout our history, music has constantly been influenced by trends of its time, reflecting social, economic and political changes. On the other hand, music has defined the culture and social events or leading them to social revolution. For instance, guys like Bob Dylan and Stevie Wonder greatly contributed to social events. Such leaders and musical revolutionaries have existed throughout history.

    Read More

  • Religion’s Profound Effect on Musical Development

    3673 Words  | 8 Pages

    Religion has been an important part of man’s life. Man has allowed religion to control and influence his life in many different ways, affecting both his behavior and his actions. So its not surprising that music, one of man’s earliest expressive forms, has also been influenced by religion. Religion has had an effect on man’s music all throughout history, from the early Egyptians to even now. So it is only natural that Western music should also have been affected by religion. Western music, and its development by composers, has been strongly influenced by the Christian religion, especially in the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. The music in these periods laid the foundation for all the different types of music we enjoy today.

    Read More

  • african american religious music

    2304 Words  | 5 Pages

    ...erself expanded gospel’s exposure when she appeared twice on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” Meanwhile, television producer Bobby Jones reaches four and a half million viewers each week with his BET program, “Gospel Explosion.” However, the test for Gospel music reflects one that all Christian musicians must wrestle with: Can Gospel continue to increase its fortune in the mainstream marketplace while still maintaining its spiritual base? Despite what you believe the answer to be, African American Religious music will continually evolve. Since Thomas Dorsey first stretched the boundaries to create gospel music, choirs, quartets, and power vocalists have been singing the same song, albeit in different styles and places. As African American religious music continues to grow beyond even Dorsey’s expectations, one can only hope that it will be embraced regardless of how it is labeled by everyone who needs to be reminded of the good news it represents.

    Read More

  • Music And Youth Culture In The 1950's

    1315 Words  | 3 Pages

    It has allowed us to go to another place, expressing the emotion and social issues of a particular decade. As our societies morals and beliefs change, music will continue to change with it. With the help of new advancements, music will always be a way for us to speak the language of generations to come and bring a variety of new music, messages, styles, and social expectations.

    Read More

  • Gospel Music

    6228 Words  | 13 Pages

    this time, gospel music was a sacred folk music with origins in field hollers, work songs,

    Read More

  • Negro Spirituals

    1984 Words  | 4 Pages

    Today, these lyrics have crossed barriers and are sung in many churches across America as spirituals. However, such songs as Wade in the Water, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, and Follow the Drinking Gourd, were once used as an important tool of survival by the slaves of the antebellum era. The content of many Negro spirituals consisted of a religious theme. However, Negro spirituals were not intended to be religious. The primary purpose of Negro spirituals was to mislead an overseer or the plantation owner.

    Read More

  • The History of Slave Music and its Impact on Modern Music

    2049 Words  | 5 Pages

    Music is an art and a wonderful gift to human race. It soothes, stimulates and makes us feel happy. It affects our moods in many different ways from lullaby to war cry for changes in the society. Music is actually distinct to different people. Above all, it has a transformational importance that is captured in its art and nature. Music draws our emotions and it has an impact of bridging different cultures across the continents. Slave songs were very vital channels through which all kind of information was conveyed both positive and negative.

    Read More

  • The Effect Of Slave Music On African American Culture

    1289 Words  | 3 Pages

    Religions is an important way for people to spirit rely on, it make people feel full and don’t afraid about the future life or something they don’t know. Slave music use on these religious ceremonies and celebrations,that make people feel their spirit rely

    Read More

  • Take Me To The King Written By Tamela Mann Gospel Music

    791 Words  | 2 Pages

    Gospel music is a genre of Christian music. The creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of gospel music varies according to culture and social context. Gospel music is composed and performed for many purposes, including aesthetic pleasure, religious or ceremonial purposes, and as an entertainment product for the marketplace. Gospel music began in the 1920’s, across the Southside of America. Many people in church listened to the blues, but a man name Dorsey introduced Gospel, a style of music that was totally sacred nor wholly secular. More upbeat than before, this music captivated people and allowed them to escape their worries, their pain, and just listen to the music. Gospel music features dominant vocals (often with

    Read More

  • Music Played Key Role in US Civil Rights Movement

    3700 Words  | 8 Pages

    Music was used as a critical instrument in the early 20th century in mobilizing and inspiring the civil rights movement by giving them more voice to bring out their grievances. According to Kerk (2007, p.18) Martin Luther King was the most prolific figure who utilized music to sensitize society, “we believe that freedom songs play a big and vital part in the struggle that we are going through” these words were also echoed by the Albany movement “music keeps us alive, it gives us a sense of unity, new courage every dawn, hope to move on that the future still holds something in our most daring and dreadful hours”. Development of Music The 20th century was a century in which the United States had great influence in the world of music across the globe. America was the birthplace of most influential music, from jazz to rock, which was promoted by the quality of technology like radio and phonographs. Advanced technology ensures fast distribution of music to Americans and all around the globe.

    Read More

More about The History of Gospel Music

Open Document