Creating a Holistic Choral

Experience for the Negro Spiritual

Holden Maiorana
Culturally Affirming Music Education, Summer 2020
Virtual Expectations
● Please feel free to chime in
● Share your experiences and be respectful of others’ experiences
● Learn from each other
Context - Spackenkill High School
● Hudson Valley, NY
● Suburb of Poughkeepsie
● High achieving in science/STEM/research
● 9-12 Mixed Chorus and Treble Choir
Context - Spackenkill High School (cont.)

Source: US Census (2019 estimates)

Source: NYSED (2017)

What are spirituals?
● “A type of sacred song created by and for African Americans that originated in
oral tradition.” (Grove Music Online)
● Impart Christian values while describing the hardships of slavery and
oppression.
● Often referred to African American spirituals, Afro-American spirituals, or
Negro spirituals.
● Three basic categories: call-and-response, slow and melodic (emotion), fast
and rhythmic (story)
● Grounded in biblical references, but often has hidden meanings.
● Field holler music vs. negro spirituals vs. jubilees
● Slaves Songs of the United States, 1867
My Experience With Negro Spirituals
● Elementary School - “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”, “Follow the
Drinking Gourd”
● Middle School - “Soon Ah Will Be Done”
● High School - “Live A Humble”
● College - “Battle of Jericho”, “Jeremiah’s Fire”, “My Soul’s
Been Anchored in the Lord”, “Cert’nly Lawd”, and many more
“Soon Ah Will Be Done”

● arr. William L. Dawson

● Emory Concert Choir
 Soon ah will be don'

A Holistic Approach A-wid de troubles ob de worl',

Troubles ob de worl',
De troubles ob de worl'.
Soon ah will be don'
A-wid de troubles ob de worl',
Goin' home t'live wid God.
● Imparting on my students a “big picture” understanding of
I wan' t'meet my mother,
what Negro spirituals are and their history I wan' t'meet my mother,
I wan' t'meet my mother,
I'm goin' t'live wid God.
● Origins of Negro spiritual, Fisk Jubilee Singers
REFRAIN
● William Dawson - composer, founded Tuskegee Institute Choir
No more weepin' an' a-wailin',
● Meaning of “Soon Ah Will Be Done” No more weepin' an' a-wailin',
No more weepin' an' a-wailin',
I'm goin' t'live wid God.
● Discussion about dialect
REFRAIN
● Impact on American music
I wan' t'meet my Jesus,
I wan' t'meet my Jesus,
I wan' t'meet my Jesus,
I'm goin' t'live wid God.
In de mornin' Lord!
God, I'm goin' t'live wid God.
I'm goin' t'live wid God
Use of Dialect
● “Dialect has its own beauty and power. It strengthens the listener’s connection
to the originators of spirituals by conveying the thoughts of the originators in
their original language.” (Roland Hayes)
● Decision of how much dialect should be based on:
○ 1. The text of the score
○ 2. An understanding of the composer’s intent
○ 3. The singers’ ability to enunciate dialect correctly without impeding the technical aspects of
the performance

(So You Want to Sing Spirituals, Jones)

Use of Dialect (cont.)
Use of Dialect (cont.)

Source: GAINING PERSPECTIVE: A Linguistic Approach to

Dialect Found in African American Spirituals, Barber 2018
Listening Examples
● Fisk Jubilee Singers
○ 1909 - “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” (Library of Congress)
○ 2019 - “Wade in the Water”
Outside Expertise and Experiences
● Hudson Valley Gospel Festival (February)
● American Spiritual Ensemble (performances in NYC)
● Dr. Baruch Whitehead, Ithaca College
● Dr. Justin Patch, Vassar College
● Listening to recordings of groups that specialize in Negro spirituals
Further Reading
● BOOK - So You Want to Sing Spirituals: A Guide for Performers by Randye
Jones (2019)
● ARTICLE - The Use of Dialect in African-American Spirituals, Popular Songs and
Folk Songs in Black Music Research Journal by John Graziano (2004)
● ARTICLE - Gaining Perspective: A Linguistic Approach to Dialect Found in
African American Spirituals in The Choral Journal by Felicia Barber (2018)
● ARTICLE - The African American Spiritual: Preparation and Performance
Considerations in NATS Journal of Singing by Rosephanye Powell
 Final Thoughts

● Holistic approach is key

● Dialect enhances the performance of Negro
spirituals
● Use of outside expertise and experiences can
greatly enhance learning
Questions, comments, points for discussion?