Talk:Spiritual (music)
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This article could be expanded:
- African roots of the musical form (call and response, blue notes, etc.)
- Role of the Jubilee Singers in spreading spirituals internationally, and their reception by the public. Importance of the music in keeping Fisk University afloat.
- Early recordings.
- Popularization of spirituals by Mahalia Jackson and Leontyne Price.
- Spiritual form as precursor to gospel. deeceevoice 12:43, 9 May 2005 (UTC)
- Agree, and more details about choral arrangements by such composers as Moses Hogan could be added. I suggest changing the heading of the second section from "Evolution of..." to "Choral arrangements of...".
- Also, the definition line should refer to black American slaves, not African-Americans in general. —Wahoofive (talk) 17:17, 14 Jun 2005 (UTC)
I really need to find a certain spiritual song, but I am not sure of the lyrics; it has one person singing (almost a cappella) and other people 'answering' him, and part of the lyrics are something like:
Oh help me Lord (help me Lord) Cause I'm in need (I'm in need)
it was part of a rap song recently, but I don't know the name of that, either. Any help would be...ummm...helpful. Yes, I have tried Google. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 172.163.26.189 (talk • contribs).
I need the lyrics to the spiritual Come and See! I'm performing an organ piece by that name, which lists the composer as "Spiritual." BUT I cannot find words anywhere. I've searched all I know to search. 01:52, 30 July 2006 (UTC)joyc7578@starband.net
Isn't there too much historical background in this article? 68.197.174.49 02:32, 19 November 2006 (UTC)
This article might need to be either retitled or needs to have more broad info that the title suggests Dr.khangirl 18:04, 10 December 2006 (UTC)
[edit] when did spirituals start?
The spirituals that we know today, are they all from the 19th century or later? Jonathan Tweet 02:57, 3 March 2007 (UTC)
- No one wrote any spirituals down until after 1865 -- they were an exclusively oral tradition before that -- so there's no certainty of how early they started. Some analysts claim to have found elements of African music in them, which slaves might have brought over with them. —Wahoofive (talk) 06:55, 3 March 2007 (UTC)
[edit] What about secret codes?
Out of curiosity, why aren't the African secret codes mentioned in this article? During the time of the underground railroad, slaves that wanted to escape to the North used these "spirituals" to give directions and advice to other slaves. "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" could be changed into one of these easily (I was taught this in college) with inferences to direction, when the chariot was going to come, where it was going, and what time to meet in order to jump on it and head for the North. Am I the only one who was taught that?
- I think most of the "secret codes" people have attributed to spirituals are mostly projection and wishful thinking. I don't think there's any solid evidence that these songs were used in this way. While there's no reason we can't mention such legends in Wikipedia (as long as they're indicated that way), I don't think it's essential. unsigned comment by User:Tarkaan
- Furthermore, they are mentioned. You didn't read the article completely. —Wahoofive (talk) 20:55, 1 April 2007 (UTC)
