Gospel music culture

Gospel music culture often refers to Christian music that grew out of the early African-American church, which was later adopted by most modern churches and influenced many gospel and R&B singers. The gospel music culture is known for its unique beats and infectious rhythms that will make people sway and dance along with the chorus. Spiritual music is mainly influenced by African music brought by African slaves. The use of the drum, dance, and clapping distinguish gospel songs from other forms of music. The gospel music culture experienced a moment of repression in the early years of slavery, where most slave owners separated their slaves from each other to facilitate integration into the new culture. However, the slaves found a way to practice their music, which was perhaps the only thing they had in common that they could remember, whether it was singing and dancing after work or at night, in places where their owners would not easily hear them. . Later, the owners realized that the slaves were more efficient if they were allowed to sing. This led to an infusion of African music with the traditions of the Christian religion and the English language that formed the basis of the gospel song.

Slaves developed work songs, which they sang while working in the fields. As they became more Christianized, the songs evolved into something else that had a deeper biblical context, while retaining the message of the harshness of life, work, and oppression under their white masters. The culture of gospel music began to evolve even further when slaves began to gather in congregations in tents after work to hear the gospel preached. There they met the old classical Christian hymns that they would later infuse with the musical techniques they brought from Africa. The improvisations of old and classic hymns gave rise to totally different songs and new arrangements for the hymns.

A large part of gospel music employs the call and response technique, which is a technique between the soloist and the congregation. This is a direct influence of the African music that the slaves brought to America. The soloist was allowed to improvise to the lyrics and melody of the song during the call and response technique.

Gospel music began with Thomas A. Dorsey, considered the father of gospel music who composed such gospel landmarks as “There will be peace in the valley.” Dorsey was an accomplished musician who often played the blues and performed with Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey. Attending the National Baptist Convention meetings led him to change his musical preferences and began writing gospel songs, including “If You See My Savior.”

The spiritual songs acquired little importance before the civil war. After the war ended, a new interest in gospel songs blossomed and the music slowly began to gain recognition outside of slave circles. The abolition of slavery helped pave the way for the popularity of the gospel music culture because by then slaves were allowed to sing their gospel music freely.