... Copyright © 1992 by Duke University Press 1992 Nathaniel Dett One of Our "Cultural Pioneers" The death of Dr. Robert Nathaniel Dett stilled the voice of one of our cultural pioneers, a composer and choral conductor whose work will be long remembered. Dr. Dett was one of the first American...

...John Howardton Smith Copyright © 1990 by Duke University Press 1990 64 Press On, 0 Faithful Ones 1 Press on, o faithful ones, press on, Don't give the struggle up, For there awaits a crown of life , For all who'll overcome. When the paths of life are strewn with thorns , And troubles...

... and intra- dependence into the cultus of the antistructural realm of worship and extra- dependence. · transformation / [preaching s e r v i c e ] ~ extradependence escape intradependence ~ ~regression [testimony service] 1If one looks beyond the male-dominated pulpit, says Cheryl Gilkes, one will doubtless...

... serious studies; and the vogue has even assisted the nascent drama. Those who like the primitive have been satisfied; at the same time there has been a challenge to the conscious artist. In the face of such acceptance and acclaim it might seem strange that any one should raise a question. Yet some things...

... they the i r we F pea praised s on know Ka, ple did_ a god_ th e wi s - that God_ Al - not 1:nW called Ra - - dam is a f A me n ._ al ways he re·- and Ya - ca is the b i rth - place of the one God A men, A men, A 1nen, Ak ten, Nef Rd When Akhenaton Spread the Gospel 85 The one- God which be-came the one God_...

..., after having given some thought to the matter, I hesitate to term the thoughts I'm about to express "theories." I'd rather call them experiences and resultant conclusions. The major problem confronting one who sets out to score for an orchestra is that of presenting the music most effectively...

... be said to be great music. Yet, was there ever a time in the history of any country on earth when every single composer turned out a masterpiece in every one of his compositions? Certainly not! The number of recog- From Counterpoint May 1948, 10 11. Reprinted with the permission of William Grant Still...

... the method of style analysis. Lest one think that Adler's position had gone unchallenged, Edward Dent, in the 1930 Guido Adler Festschrift, wrote that a history of music "must deal with the art of music in relation to human life in general, in relation to poetry, drama, the plastic arts and in relation...

..., was attempting to stay in step with the civil rights move- ment. One major step was to bring in the largest number of African- American freshmen in the school's history. Excluding the kitchen crew, the black students, all highly recruited athletes, then num- bered about twenty-seven out of nearly two thousand...

... who is fully conversant with the artistic world as well as with the problems of Negroes. He feels that the mere inci­ dent of color brings interest to a person's work and makes him stand out from the crowd. In one way I can see his point, and can agree that this may be true in some instances. It may...

... Copyright © 1995 by Duke University Press 1995 Chapter 3 Dances, Blues, and Ballads I One may well consider the dance song to be synonymous with the Negro song in general. At one time or another the Negro has used all classes of his songs for dancing. This is very likely due to the fact...

... musical life, while the spiritual seems ever to gain in favor, not only at home, but also abroad. In the face of the volumes upon volumes of spirituals which have been recorded (with new ones being discovered - each book of this series contains several new ones) and considering the fewness of the great...

... the captives free. Some of these songs can even be found under the categories of sacred music-the anthem, the hymn, the spiritual, the gospel. But there is a new song placed on the lips of those brought up from the pit by the one who alone is able to deliver. This is the new song. The new song is profoundly...

... but reflecting the influences of Paris, or of German and English painting." And then he asks this pertinent question, "Was there, in fact, as distinguished from art in America, any American art?" Turning to the realm of music, one finds an analogous situation; for, until very recently, music in America...

... Copyright © 1995 by Duke University Press 1995 Chapter 4 The Rise ol the Work Songs The philosophy, beauty, and grandeur of the Negro work song has been largely overlooked until very recently. This is the result of neglect, on the one hand, and circumstances inherent in the system producing...

... was the first and remained one of the few world composers of his race. Born to an English mother and an African father, it has been said that Coleridge-Taylor was incidentally English and essentially Negro. His genius was always directed toward the music of African and Afro-American Negroes. Negro music...

... goes on between the various musical types. The I64 Black Sacred Music same holds true for the baptism, the funeral, the revival, and other occasions-the shout being itself an occasion. So, the less one considers the fact that Negroes in America represent many different tribes and customs, the more he...

...Sister Esther Mary, N.C.T. Copyright © 1990 by Duke University Press 1990 Spirituals in the Church Sister Esther Mary, N. C. T Writings about and references to the use of spirituals in Protestant churches are sufficient in number. The value of the present article is that it is one of the few...

... this period, in 19231 that Jean Toomer's Cane was published. Before publication, Toomer sent a letter dated December 121 19221 to one of his closer friends, Waldo Frank: Cane is on its way to you! For two weeks I have worked steadily at it. The book is done. From three angles, Cane's design is a circle...

... one day to a rural church. The singing of the people was wonderful. There is no better word for it; yes, it was exactly and perfectly wonderful. So, then, at a Festival intended to teach young Negro high school students an appreciation of music, why not have a session or two devoted to the Folk...