Lesson 14Lesson 14THE THE

SPIRITUALSPIRITUALObjectives:Objectives: After doing though this lesson you should After doing though this lesson you should

be able to;be able to;1. explain the spiritual.1. explain the spiritual.2. give example of spiritual songs.2. give example of spiritual songs.3. develops ways of communicating with God.3. develops ways of communicating with God.

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13 15Lesson 16 17

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

A spiritual is an American Negro folk song A spiritual is an American Negro folk song of religious character. Much of the music of of religious character. Much of the music of the Negro is characterized by deep, the Negro is characterized by deep, personal feeling. Because of their life as personal feeling. Because of their life as slaves in bondage many of their spirituals slaves in bondage many of their spirituals expressed hope for a future as salves in expressed hope for a future as salves in bondage many their spirituals expressed bondage many their spirituals expressed hope for the future life after death, “a hope for the future life after death, “a promised” land where they would be free promised” land where they would be free and worldly injustices would be done away and worldly injustices would be done away with. The texts for many of those spirituals, with. The texts for many of those spirituals, both sad and gay were based upon simple both sad and gay were based upon simple phrase from the Bible.phrase from the Bible.

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Musically, spirituals show both Musically, spirituals show both African and European and American African and European and American influences. From African tribal music influences. From African tribal music came the steady beat, syncopation came the steady beat, syncopation and the solo and response musical and the solo and response musical structures.structures.

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From European culture came religious From European culture came religious and harmonic styles. There are three and harmonic styles. There are three types of spirituals namely the: types of spirituals namely the: Lively, rhythmic variety Lively, rhythmic variety Solo and choral response type Solo and choral response type Slow sustained lyrical type. Slow sustained lyrical type. ““My Lord What a Mourning” is an My Lord What a Mourning” is an interpretation of the second coming interpretation of the second coming Christ and the final days of judgment as Christ and the final days of judgment as expressed by St. John in the Book of expressed by St. John in the Book of Revelation. Revelation. In singing this spiritual song let us try to In singing this spiritual song let us try to sing with beautiful tone quality and with sing with beautiful tone quality and with feeling. feeling.

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