Monday, September 19, 2011

Gospel Music History And Culture

By Fred Nystrom


Gospel music of course, is frequently associated with church choirs, although that was not always the case. The origins of gospel music didn't just mean the beginning of a whole new style of music, it also meant the birth of African-American culture.

Gospel music's origins can be found in Africa. While the tribal songs of Africa may seem distant in sound to contemporary gospel, African slaves brought with them a close relationship with spiritualized music.

Of course, maximum subjugation of slaves was the true motivation for such injunctions against viable inter-communications among slave populations. Thus, newly-captured Africans resorted to the creation of a musical innovation that employed Christian themes. The combination of Western modes of musical expression and conventional African variations formed the basis of the musical origins, history, and genesis of contemporary gospel music.

After the Civil War, African-Americans were free to travel the country. With them they brought gospel music, often performing the new sound in public music halls for all-white audiences. The spiritual aspect of gospel music spoke to a whole lot customers of all backgrounds and its popularity increases decade after decade.

Because the slaves regarded the church as a sort of safe haven, they felt that their own music could perhaps be performed and they started to combine their own native music with the often dull and somber hymns of the day. Lots features of today's gospel music are also used in the tribal music of Africa, including complicated percussion rhythms and the call and response.

It was about this time that former slaves were afforded meaningful solutions to collect and perform public musical presentations within groups. Exclusively Caucasian audiences rapidly fashionable this new musical breed. Their collective interest was undoubtedly enhanced by the novelty of the sound patterns and rhythmic tempo. Before much longer, gospel music began to impact both conventional religious hymns and secular American songs.

Gospel music's sound and soul has touched lots clients's lives. It will continue to influence and inspire through well-liked music, in churches, and with its long history. Gospel music is here to stay.




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