The History of Gospel Music Essay - 2849 Words

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†¦show more content†¦Spirituals were not only â€Å"sung to keep spirits up† (Thompson 9), but were used as coded messages to give directions for where to go or how to proceed to freedom in the North. The slave owners believed that the slaves were hap py because they sang church songs and they praised God but little did they know, that the slaves were secretly communicating. For instance, during the Underground Railroad, songs like â€Å"Follow the Drinkin’ Gourd,’ ‘Wade in the Water,’ and ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,’ all directly refer to secret code about using the Underground Railroad.† As many as 100,000 slaves escaped by means of this method (Thompson 9). When President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862, over twenty million Americans, both black and white moved out of the southern United States. This move as stated by Whitaker, â€Å"transformed religion, American popular culture, racial hierarchies, American conservative and the nature of American regions.† During this revolutionary movement, â€Å"Baptist and Pentecostal churches† and music, such as jazz, blues and gospel, spread. Spirituals were not known by anywhere else in the country other than in the south until that time (570). Spirituals were used and recorded by producers and different artists. A group of college students called, â€Å"the Jubilee Singers,† from Fisk University sang Spirituals to parts of the United States andShow MoreRelatedGospel music Essay1072 Words   |  5 PagesGospel Music Gospel music began in the cotton fields of the old south. It originates from slaves singing songs of freedom about Jesus and has integrated into today’s music. Gospel music is a standard version of sanctified music that has encouraged Christian beliefs and stimulated the practice of Christian ethical principles, both inside the context of worship services and as music entertainment. Gospel music began with Thomas A. Dorsey, the Father of Gospel Music. Gospel, mean good news, it wasRead MoreThe Power And Influence Of Gospel Music On The American Civil Rights Movement1594 Words   |  7 Pagesof Gospel Music on the American Civil Rights Movement For centuries, Gospel music has influenced and promoted African-American social, moral and ethical values, playing an imperative role in modelling their past and future. Originating from the hardships of slavery and the strength of Christian worship, Gospel music has adapted to musical tastes through the development of a number of sub-genres, while retaining its moral and spiritual framework. Throughout its musical history, Gospel music hasRead MoreThe History of Jazz Music Essay960 Words   |  4 PagesThe History of Jazz Music If you truly want to appreciate the music you listen to, I would recommend that you study about its Roots. It was a life changing experience for me to study about the music of the United States. I studied about Jazz, Blues, Ragtime, Spirituals and Gospel. It was Rather astonishing to see how this music is inter- related. It is said that American music is Jazz. My studies revealed to me that Jazz is an African American creation which startedRead MoreThe Legacy Of Soul Music1509 Words   |  7 PagesSoul is a music genre that over five decades or so remains very popular in the music industry. This may be due to the fact that soul has had a huge impact upon other genres. Shuker defines soul as a â€Å"secular version of gospel, soul was the major black musical form of the 1960s and 1970s and remained evident in various hybrid styles since, for example, contemporary neo-soul and soul jazz (312). The history of soul music is notable for producing a range of artists who have assisted African-AmericanRead MoreAfrican American Music Culture1490 Words   |  6 PagesAfrican American Music Culture Jakiella James â€Å"African-American gospel music is a major influence in nearly all genres of modern popular music, from rhythm ‘n blues to jazz, from soul to rock ‘n roll. The musical genre is a unique expression of the black experience in America? The emotionally-charged, wailing vocals and syncopated rhythms give the music a distinctive style. The singing is accompanied not only by instrumentals, but often also by hand-clapping, foot-stomping and shoutingRead MoreSoul Music, Or Soul?1237 Words   |  5 Pages Soul music, or â€Å"Soul†,was adopted to describe African-American popular music as it evolved from the 1950s to the early 1970s. Although some people thought of â€Å"Soul† music as a new term for Rhythm and Blues, it was not. In fact, the â€Å"key ingredient in Soul music, and the element that defined it as a new style was the influence of gospel music.† (1)This style of music was a blend gospel music with the dance grooves of that era. However, Soul music during its heyday did more than simply entertain.Read MoreAnalysis Of The Song Expression By Salt N Pepa862 Words   |  4 Pagesmusicians used their music as a platform to express the struggles that their community experienced daily during the 1980’s and 90’s. It allowed them to represent their anger or sorrow without acting out violently while also spreading awareness to the listeners about their stories, ideas, struggles , deep emotions, and the messages behind their songs. Lyrics to songs can bring a lot of meaning to a person or society. Music is an art and showcases an individual’s spirit. Hip hop music has brought many messagesRead MoreThe History Of American Music1288 Words   |  6 PagesThe history of American music begins with a fundamental process of exchange through all different social lines, where diverse cultures meet, and mix. Music has and always will be defined as sounds that are arranged in a particular pattern that are played to be meaningful and pleasurable. The chronology of music began in the Medieval period, when chanting was introduced into the Church. Music has then moved its way through many stages: renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic and leading up to 20thRead MoreCharacteristics Of Soul And Funk Guitar Style911 Words   |  4 PagesGospel, has parallel streams of black and white Christian Gospel which is a mixed-race heritage. It is the origin of Soul music , which supplanted blues-based rb. With emerging of the soul music, traditional urban black popular music has a new trends and direction. And it eventually became a sociological and political significance in American popular culture. Funk is a musical mixture which fuse some different types styles of music to create a soulful and rhythmic sound. Dance-tempo rhythm and blues-styleRead MoreEssay about Rap Music and Teen Violence 944 Words   |  4 PagesMusic can be a reflection of our life experiences. Each genre of music invokes different emotions and reactions in its listeners. Rap has become a very popular genre of music. As its popularity has increased, some people have questioned whether it can trigger violence in teens. While some rap songs do have violent lyrics, there is no direct evidence that rap music provokes violence in teenagers. Rap music has African roots just like jazz, the blues and rock ‘n’ roll. African slaves sang songs