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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
A curator at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History and a noted gospel singer herself, Reagon presents a superb collection of essays--by academics who are also gospel performers or record producers--that focus on major figures in black gospel music: Charles A. Tindley, Lucie Campbell Williams, Thomas A. Dorsey, William H. Brewster Sr., Roberta Martin and Kenneth Morris. Highlights here are oral histories by Brewster and Morris, from interviews conducted by Reagon; a roundtable discussion by several former members of the Roberta Martin Singers; and Michael Harris's explication of Dorsey's life as a complex dialectic of the sacred and secular traditions of African-American culture. There is a no less profound tension between the messianic fervor of black Baptist and Pentecostal ritual practice, convincingly depicted in essays by Horace Clarence Boyer and Rev. Charles Walker, and an explicitly social gospel, as evidenced in Reagon's essay on Tindley. Finally, the dictates of the marketplace could not be avoided by even the most devoutly religious gospel performer, as Kenneth Morris, a music publisher and composer, reminds Reagon in an interview. Boyer's essays on each of the six composers are elegant combinations of biography and musical analysis, although some of the latter may be beyond the comprehension of non-musicians. Illustrations, bibliography and discography.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal
YA-- This wonderful volume on the evolution of African-American gospel music and its influence on worship and contemporary music has something for everyone. An overview and introductory chapter define components of the genre. Individual chapters on six greats who pioneered and developed the musical tradition provide information on their philosophy and attitudes. Analyses and 49 complete piano and vocal scores are included. Most delightful of all are the accounts resulting from interviews with the featured composers, family members, and performers that present a personalized, comfortable step into their experiences and thoughts. Although a hefty book that will undoubtedly challenge competent readers if read straight through, its organization, various components, and extensive index allow flexible use for a variety of interests.
- Jessica Lahr, Edison High School, Fairfax County, VA
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.