Choral Arrangements of the African-American Spirituals: Historical Overview and Annotated Listings (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780313302114)

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 arrangements--from Fisk Jubilee Singers of the 1870s through those currently active--are 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.

Author: Patricia J. Trice
ISBN-10: 0313302111
ISBN-13: 9780313302114
Publisher: Greenwood
Language: English
Published: 02/12/1998
Pages: 254
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.19lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.10w x 0.90d

Review Citation(s):
American Reference Bks Annual 01/01/1999 pg. 478