'Professional gospel performer, composer, and scholar Horace Clarence Boyer presents the first definitive history of the vibrant, visceral tradition of black gospel music. Originally published as "How Sweet the Sound", this authoritative work is beautifully illustrated with Lloyd Year wood's arresting photographs of gospel's greatest performers backstage and in the heat of performance'.'Skillfully blending music history and social context, Boyer traces the development of gospel from its earliest beginnings through the Golden Age (1945-55) and into the 1960s when gospel entered the concert hall. He introduces dozens of the genre's most gifted contributors, from Thomas A. Dorsey and Mahalia Jackson to the Soul Stirrers and Aretha Franklin, evoking their distinctive styles and distinguishing among the characteristic sounds of gospel music in Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, St. Louis, and other locations. Capturing the essence of a thrilling performance tradition, "The Golden Age of Gospel" clearly establishes gospel's importance as an authentic American art form and a musical statement of profound belief'.
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"Boyer is generous but always balanced in his presentation of gospel's great performers, discussing them so intelligently and informatively that anyone who loves early and golden age gospel will love his book, too." -- Booklist "Boyer is the foremost scholar of gospel music... [His] coverage of individuals and ensembles is very rich, and the result is a handsomely produced book useful to both specialists and laypersons at all levels." -- Choice "Boyer infuses his immense knowledge of musical and vocal forms into an engrossing narrative... Superb." -- Stephanie Brasley, Multicultural Review "This important volume tells the story of African American gospel music through analysis of its regional aspects, its creative musicians, and its long and powerful history." -- Kevin Toelle, Illinois Entertainer
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing,
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This review is from: The Golden Age of Gospel (Music in American Life) (Paperback)
What a Blessing this book has been to me. I have really enjoyed learning not only about Gospel music but about the African American culture that birthed this music/style into existence. So this book has really enlightened me and I am very thankful for it's Historical detail. It is a must read!!!!!
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Inaccuracies,
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This review is from: The Golden Age of Gospel (Music in American Life) (Paperback)
The book is intersesting however there are several inaccuracies which suprised me. Dr Boyer was there during the "Golden Age of Gospel" Photo personnel are also incorrect. One lists the Caravans when it's really the Gospel Harmonettes. William Bobo of the Dixie Hummingbirds was listed as playing the guitar when indeed it is Howard Carroll. Cissy Houston and the Drinkard Singers were in Newark, New Jersey not Detroit. I am a great fan of the Boyer Brothers and still play their recordings, however we must be careful with our History.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
In 1969 Edwin Hawkins, an Oakland, California, based pianist and choir director of the Church of God in Christ, reworked the nineteenth-century white Baptist hymn "O Happy day" by Philip Doddridge (1702-51) and Edward Rimbault (1816-76). Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
gospel music lovers, sanctified singing, sanctified style, sanctified singers, jubilee quartet, gospel techniques, lining hymns, gospel ballad, cappella quartets, quartet movement, gospel musicians, gospel quartets, gospel band, hymn tradition, most popular recordings, gospel composers, other quartets, jubilee singers, sacred singing, gospel singers, quartet singing, gospel style, gospel concerts, sanctified church, jubilee songs Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
African American, New York, Soul Stirrers, Mahalia Jackson, Roberta Martin, National Baptist Convention, United States, Los Angeles, Sallie Martin, Ward Singers, Church of God, Clara Ward, Azusa Street Revival, Dixie Hummingbirds, Holy Ghost, Alex Bradford, Fairfield Four, Golden Gate Quartet, Kenneth Morris, Pilgrim Travelers, Davis Sisters, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, James Cleveland, Sam Cooke, Lucie Campbell New!
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
In 1969 Edwin Hawkins, an Oakland, California, based pianist and choir director of the Church of God in Christ, reworked the nineteenth-century white Baptist hymn "O Happy day" by Philip Doddridge (1702-51) and Edward Rimbault (1816-76). Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
gospel music lovers, sanctified singing, sanctified style, sanctified singers, jubilee quartet, gospel techniques, lining hymns, gospel ballad, cappella quartets, quartet movement, gospel musicians, gospel quartets, gospel band, hymn tradition, most popular recordings, gospel composers, other quartets, jubilee singers, sacred singing, gospel singers, quartet singing, gospel style, gospel concerts, sanctified church, jubilee songs Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
African American, New York, Soul Stirrers, Mahalia Jackson, Roberta Martin, National Baptist Convention, United States, Los Angeles, Sallie Martin, Ward Singers, Church of God, Clara Ward, Azusa Street Revival, Dixie Hummingbirds, Holy Ghost, Alex Bradford, Fairfield Four, Golden Gate Quartet, Kenneth Morris, Pilgrim Travelers, Davis Sisters, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, James Cleveland, Sam Cooke, Lucie Campbell New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
37
books
cite this book:
See all 37 books citing this book
- The Holy Profane: Religion in Black Popular Music by Teresa L. Reed in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
- Religion in Mississippi (Heritage of Mississippi Series, V. 2) by Randy J. Sparks in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Appropriating Blackness: Performance and the Politics of Authenticity by E. Patrick Patrick Johnson in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Appropriating Blackness: Performance and the Politics of Authenticity by E. Patrick Patrick Johnson in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Discerning the Spirits: A Guide to Thinking about Christian Worship Today (Calvin Institute of Christian Worship Liturgical Studies) by Cornelius Plantinga Jr. on page 29
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