Choral Arrangements of the African-American Spirituals: Historical Overview and Annotated Listings

(Hardback)

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Description

Although the choral arrangements of the African-American spirituals constitute the largest group of folk song arrangements in western literature, they have received little scholarly attention. This book provides the needed historical and stylistic information about the spirituals and the arrangements. It traces the history and cultural roots of the genre through its inception and delineates the African and European characteristics common to the original folk songs and arrangements. Ensembles that have perpetuated the growth of the spiritual arrangementsfrom Fisk Jubilee Singers of the 1870s through those currently activeare chronicled as well. Musicians, choral directors, and scholars will welcome this first complete text on the African-American spiritual genre. Annotated listings of titles provide information choral directors need to make ensemble-appropriate performance choices. Arrangements indexed by title, arranger, and subject complement the accompanying biographies and repertoire information. Well-organized and thoroughly researched, this text is a valuable addition to music, choral, multicultural, and African-American libraries.

Reviews

Choral Arrangements of the African-American Spirituals is a valuable contribution to the small body of reference tools that deal with spirituals. It will serve an important function in furthering the availability and performance of this repoertory.-Notes
"Choral Arrangements of the African-American Spirituals is a valuable contribution to the small body of reference tools that deal with spirituals. It will serve an important function in furthering the availability and performance of this repoertory."-Notes

Author Bio

PATRICIA JOHNSON TRICE is Music Professor at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Florida, where she coordinates the choral and piano departments. She is also an accomplished church organist, pianist, and choral director.