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Gospel 101
Sunday Jun 05, 2005.
By Venita Griffin
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Ask ten different people what they think Gospel music is and you're sure to get ten different answers. Like any other musical genre, Gospel music has several schools, each with a set of equally passionate admirers and critics. Thomas A. Dorsey, widely known as the "Father of Gospel Music," once described Gospel music by saying "the Gospel is good news." The Good news will be delivered June 3-5 as some of the country's finest Gospel performers, many of them local, take to the stage at the city's Gospel Music Fest in Millennium Park (Randolph & Michigan). We've put together a briefing, intended to educate novices about the different styles of Gospel. By no means an exhaustive list, it should be helpful as you navigate this year's festival and, perhaps, expand your musical horizons. Spirituals: There are two types of spirituals: folk spirituals and arranged spirituals. The folk spiritual originated in Colonial America when African slaves used song to express themselves in a variety of situations. While some folk spirituals were sung for religious expression, they were sometimes sung in work groups, to keep everyone working at the same speed. At other times, they were coded with messages about escape plans and provided directions for how to reach the north via the Underground Railroad. An arranged spiritual was first developed at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee for performance in the United States and Europe to both black and white audiences. The shouts, foot stomping and improvisation of folk spirituals were replaced with a choreographed and precise delivery, making the music acceptable to more conservative audiences. Traditional Gospel: Rooted in the South, traditional gospel is and usually performed by large choirs or soloists with powerful voices. Traditional gospel is usually accompanied by an organist or piano player and relies on gospel "standards" instead of new material. Some traditional gospel is more subdued and features a more restrained delivery, while other artists tend to put more emotion behind the performance. Contemporary Gospel: An updated, urban version of traditional gospel, much of the material in contemporary Gospel is newly written. The performers or choir take on more of an R&B flavor in their vocals, arrangement and performance. The style incorporates soul, blues, R&B, jazz and hip-hop and, on record, sounds very similar to urban music Southern Gospel: With an emphasis on steel and rhythm guitars, southern Gospel draws on bluegrass and blues elements. Southern gospel groups tend to use four-part harmony with a high tenor and baritone. Country Gospel: Recognized for its simple arrangements and small choirs, the music of country Gospel is similar to secular country music; the only difference is that the subject matter is religious. Much like traditional country, country gospel's sound became more pop-oriented over the years and, by the '70s, had become difficult to distinguish from mainstream pop. Your appetite for Gospel music is beginning to grow and you want to know where you can hear more? Aside from going to church (the city has plenty to choose from) you can make a Sunday event out of it or you can go low-key;
Feed your Body and Your Spirit
Listen while you work. Or commute. Or work out.
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