INTRODUCTION: African-American music can be classed into three different traditions, each being the source of today's most popular genres. First we have the sacred tradition genres, secular tradition genres and finally the Jazz secular tradition genres. Throughout this paper we will take a very close look at the African-American music legacy , focusing on the meanings of all different genres, it's context and history, musical features as well as performance style, we will also focus on the lyrics and how they are expressed and finally notable performers in the history of African-American music. But first we must also know little about the history of the African-American population itself. It is evident that the Black Americans have long been considered a large and significant ethnic minority of the United States population.
Their influence on U.S. culture runs deep even though the African American community represents a relatively small percentage of the U.S. population, accounting for about 13% (United States Census Bureau). In this essay I will focus on their effect on the entertainment industry, language, politics, economy, and education. African Americans have a rich musical tradition, rooted in African tradition, which was incorporated into daily life by slaves. They used “singing, call and response and hollering to coordinate their labor, communicate with one another across adjacent fields, and bolster weary spirits” (Class notes, week 4). These were the building blocks in the development of jazz, gospel and blues, which continued to evolve into to Rock ‘n Roll, R&B, Hip Hop and Rap; all quintessentially American forms of music.
From the smooth tones of Sam Cooke and the melodious overtures of Marion Anderson to thunderous roar of Tye Tribbett and Kirk Franklin, black gospel music is more than just a soulful sound; it is a collection of life changing beats that transcend time, culture, and religion becoming a powerful force in the dichotomy of American music. As we embark upon the 21st century, gospel music has evolved into various sub genres and crossed over into secular venues becoming a new soulful sound of America. However, like any style and form of music, gospel music does have its spiritual genesis. Black gospel music as we know it today was birthed within the loins of the Historic Pilgrim Baptist Church on the south side of Chicago. Designed by Louis Sullivan
Also in the melting pot creating a new musical form were country and western music (including Western swing and influences from traditional Appalachian folk music), jazz, and gospel music. However, elements of rock and roll can be heard in country records of the 1930s, and in blues records from the 1920s. [citation needed] During that period many white Americans enjoyed African-American jazz and blues performed by white musicians. [citation needed] Often "black" music was usually relegated to "race music" outlets (music industry code for rhythm and blues stations) and was rarely heard by mainstream white audiences. [citation needed] A few black rhythm and blues musicians, notably Louis Jordan, the Mills Brothers, and The Ink Spots, achieved crossover success;[citation needed] in some cases (such as Jordan's "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie") this success was achieved with songs written by white songwriters.
This book is about the obscured settlers who laid the foundation for African American culture; it is also about the recent beginning of African American Archaeology as a means for learning about that culture. African Americans felt strong ties to their native African culture, while it was commonly believed that most Africans had lost their cultural traditions and skills during the disorienting relocation from their home to the New World, it can be easily proven through the use of different sources which include artifactual and architectural data, that the African American people were trying to maintain their racial identity and cultural traditions. Ceramics are what make up a majority of the artifacts which archaeologists uncover at a site. By examining the different pots and colonoware plantation slave workers owned, historical archaeologists can determine a great deal about their daily lives. For example the typical colonoware associated with slaves were unglazed wares, which differ from the glazed wares used by wealthier Europeans.
Where did Folk Music Come From? Folk music originally came from the black slaves of America when working all day long, some of the songs we still know today, like ‘down by the riverside’. The songs were about overcoming hardships and struggle. Another song would be ‘We Shall Overcome’ which was one of the bases for Martin Luther Kings speech. There were also different types of folk music even before the American slave era, the songs based from different melodies told stories and were passed down generation by generation.
The music that was played was important to the church and church people it always caused the church people to become excited for the Lord. In the book, The Black Church in the African American Experience, Lawrence H. Mamiya states “…in most black churches singing is second only to preaching as the magnet of attraction and the primary vehicle of spiritual transport for the worshiping congregation.” What’s important about the music is the message behind each song that is sung in the churches. The lyrics have meaning in which people can express themselves and really worship God. In the mid 1900’s during the civil rights movement, black churches would sing about freedom. Music and singing played a critical role in inspiring, mobilizing, and giving voice to the civil rights movement.
“Let My People Go” Paul Robeson’s baritone voice is probably the most striking aspect of the song “Let My People Go”. While I was never formally trained in music or really played an instrument, I could recognize that the song was in a minor key, which adds to its ominous, dark tone. The recording that I listened was spacious and somewhat atmospheric, setting a mood that seemed to match the song’s Old Testament style lyrics. What became quite clear to me is that there are parallels between this song and slave songs from the days of slavery in the United States. Although this song, lyrically, seems to be about the slavery of the Jewish people prior to the Common Era, it could be used as a protest song of sorts, updated for the Civil Rights era.
Slave Song History It can be said that Slave songs was born in Africa and that slaves or Africans brought their customs or rituals to America. Singing songs was very important to the Africans because it acted as a form of communication. In the home country of Africa the songs that the people sang told a lot about the communities the people dwelt in, like the condition of the tribes or about nature. African songs were also used to express the religious beliefs of the Africans, whether it is God or gods or to ward of those spirits that they thought meant harm. The Africans also used songs to tell about what happened in the community.
caAfrican American Culture Introduction Are you aware that the characteristics of a particular group of people are defined by everything from language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts? Today, in the United States as in other countries populated largely by immigrants, the culture is influenced by the many groups of people that now make up the country. Music of African Americans Blues is a part of African American music. The blues is a extremely various type music with many different musical expressions. The musicians always created an individual style of blues when they performed.