In two elegant and masterly prefaces, James Weldon Johnson discusses the origin and history of more than 120 of the most significant spirituals known. Favorites like "Swing Low Sweet Chariot," "Deep River," and "Go Down, Moses" are arranged for voice and piano by his brother, J. Rosamond Johnson, and considered within their African tradition.
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About the Author
James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938) is recognized alongside W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington as one of the most respected interpreters of the black experience. Composer J. Rosamond Johnson (1873-1954) was an authority on Negro spirituals.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Books of American Negro Spirituals,
By Jolie Rocke Brown (Hartford, CT USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Books of the American Negro Spirituals (Paperback)
This is one of the best reference books available on the history of Negro Spirituals as well as a vast collection of songs - many of which have not been heard during our time. The preface begins with an awe inspiring poem " O Black and Unknown Bards". This is a must read for musicians, especially singers of Spirituals. Composers and arrangers would appreciate it's content as well.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
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This review is from: The Books of the American Negro Spirituals (Paperback)
This is perhaps the best compilation of African American Spirituals. Both of editor James Weldon Johnson's volumes are included as are his excellent introductions. The introductions alone are worth the price of the book and more. Johnson's brother provides the arrangement, as close as possible to the most likely way(s) in which they were originally sung. The words themselves are also as close as possible to the original wording. "The Book of the American Negro Spirituals" provides a first-hand accounting of the lyrical majesty and the creative genius of the enslaved African Americans as they integrated Christian truth into their daily suffering.
Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction." He has also authored "Soul Physicians," "Spiritual Friends," and the forthcoming "Sacred Friendships: Listening to the Voices of Women Soul Care-Givers and Spiritual Directors."
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
if you are a singer, and admire sprituals this is your source,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Books of the American Negro Spirituals (Paperback)
i love spirituals and especially for a bass/baritone, the spiritual is a form that allows the low voice to shine. i purchased this work and have begun to enjoy working from sheet music with songs that previously, i only had the words, and maybe a recording to learn from.
not much else to say. if you want to see how spiritual looked when they were first transcribed for musicians, this is a one stop source.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
O black and unknown bards of long ago, Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
dat morn, dat cru, bell done ring, ner cry, white hors, ring dem bells, broad spears, dis body, rare version, dat day, ring shout Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Rosamond Johnson, United States, American Negro, New York, Mas-sa Je-sus, Sihamba Ngenyanga, Van Vechten, Praise de Lord, Walk Together Children, Deep River, Fisk University, Paul Robeson, Praise King, Roland Hayes, Lit'-le Dav-id, Alfred Friedenthal, Christmas Spirituals, Civil War, Den Moses, Roll Jor New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
O black and unknown bards of long ago, Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
dat morn, dat cru, bell done ring, ner cry, white hors, ring dem bells, broad spears, dis body, rare version, dat day, ring shout Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Rosamond Johnson, United States, American Negro, New York, Mas-sa Je-sus, Sihamba Ngenyanga, Van Vechten, Praise de Lord, Walk Together Children, Deep River, Fisk University, Paul Robeson, Praise King, Roland Hayes, Lit'-le Dav-id, Alfred Friedenthal, Christmas Spirituals, Civil War, Den Moses, Roll Jor New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 7
books:
See all 7 books this book cites
2
books
cite this book:
- Langston Hughes (Black Americans of Achievement) by Jack Rummel on page 344
- What Now? by Camellia M. Johnson in Front Matter
- Afro-American Folksongs by Henry Edward Krehbiel on page 48
- Along This Way by James Weldon Johnson in Front Matter
- Negro Americans, What Now? by James Weldon Johnson in Front Matter
See all 7 books this book cites
- The Talking Book: African Americans and the Bible by Allen Dwight Callahan in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
- Teaching African American Literature: Theory and Practice (Transforming Teaching) by Maryemma Graham in Back Matter
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