Wade in the Water: The Wisdom of the Spirituals [Paperback]

Arthur C. Jones (Author), Vincent Harding (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1999

Spirituals emerged from the crucible of slavery. They inspired enslaved African Americans to risk their lives for the chance to be free. Wade in the Water celebrates these spirituals as an art form and as unique and powerful cultural expression. For those with little knowledge of the tradition, it provides a wealth of information. For those who know and love the spirituals, it offers a fresh prespective and an invitation to deeper understanding, spiritual transformation, and social renewal. The book comes with a CD of some of the spirituals covered in the book.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Once in a while a book comes along that literally sings ...Such is Wade in the Water. Arthur Jones has done us all a service by recreating the very fiber of African-American culture" --Andrew Billingsley, Author of Climbing Jacob's Ladder

"A mesmerizing treatise on the beginning, development and refinement of the Negro Spiritual and its important cultural and psychological meanings.... It is a welcome addition to our understanding of humanity." --Horace Clarence Boyer Author of The Golden Age of Gospel --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Arthur C. Jones is a clinical psychologist who teaches at the University of Denver. He is also the founder of The Spirituals Project, a nonprofit organization that is working actively to perserve and revitalize the spirituals tradition. Active in choral groups in high school and college, Dr. Jones returned to singing with private vocal study at the age of 41. Since 1991 he has conducted workshops and solo lecture-concert programs on spirituals in a variety of venues throughout the United States. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 182 pages
• Publisher: Orbis Books (July 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570752885
• ISBN-13: 978-1570752889
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,700,449 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful, readable, touching book, August 16, 2007

By 

S. Stanley (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Wade in the Water: The Wisdom of the Spirituals (Paperback)

I want to echo the sentiments about this book. It is a delightful book. Art Jones brings a special insight and passion to this work. He is both a highly respected psychologist and also a consummate performer, himself, of the music and it's history. I highly recommend this book.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is wonderful, February 20, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Wade in the Water: The Wisdom of the Spirituals (Hardcover)

I used this book as the basis for my History of Gospel Music class here at Western Maryland College and it worked out great. Each chapter is broken down to different emotions, and it even comes with a cassette of songs you can send away for. It's all great.

5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary Book!, June 25, 2009

By 

Hubert E. Walters - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Wade in the Water: The Wisdom of the Spirituals (Paperback)

The most extraordinary book on The Spirituals (the root of all African American Music) to date!!! I use it in my courses on Rhythm and Blues and Jazz here at Boston College. It is a required text for my choral group called The Voices of Imani. I recommend it highly!!