MUH 214 1st Edition Lecture 6Current LectureBlack Music in Early America; Learning the LanguageColonial America-Rural Society - 92% of population in 1700-Music was primarily vocal-Music related to church (meetinghouse), home, and community-Meeting house was also social centerObstacles for blacks-Language -Culture-Adjusting to way of life-Isolation of large plantations in south-Opposition to slave knowledge and maintenance of African customs-White fear- Increase of slaves in south fueled fear of uprisings- Slave codes- mandated slavery for life- Laws enacted to prevent assembling of slaves - Slavery needed to preserve economic success-Paternalism- Slaves listed as family members- Excepted to take family surname-Religion- Conversion attempts designed to pacify and domesticate slaves- Slaves often forced to accompany Master to church but sat outside, in the back, in balcony, or stood along walls.- Amount of training depend on Slave Master- Records kept to document slaves baptized/converted-Separation Anxiety- Heartbreak Day (Jan. 1)- Traditional day for selling/exchanging slaves- Broke up familiesNew Forms-Use of Music – Sacred vs. Secular- Heavily weighted toward scared music- Service and praise of God- Solace of men-Psalm Singing- Common – slow tempo with lots of ornamentation- Regular – Strict tempo, exact pitches- Long meter (8-8-8-8)- Common meter (8-6-8-6)- Short meter (6-6-8-6)-Ring Shout - Aka glory shout, walk around, running spiritual - Counterclockwise circular dance while singing- Indefinite song length- Tempo gradually increases to raise spirits- Highly repetitive lyrics- Highly embellished melodic lines*Glissandos*Turns*Melismas- Polyrhythmic- Body percussion accompaniment*Hand claps*Foot Stomps*Upper body movement*foot shufflingReligious Practices1. Conversion to Christianity determined by geography-More prominent in northern & mid-Atlantic states-Less prominent in strong Catholic states (LA)2. Groups-Society for the propagation of the gospel-Associates of Dr. Bray-Moravians 3. Hymns -Great awakening -1730’s- Demand for livelier music-Lining out - Form of call and response- Leader sings each line first, then line is repeated by group- Resulting texture often heterphoonic-Songs learned by rote- Few had music reading ability-Tunes often altered regionally- Same hymns sung differently according to geographic regions- Amazing Grace is an example-Use of religious poems instead of psalms- Less emphasis on Biblical text- Corresponded to less formal Protestant approach-Many hymns written by early church leaders- Dr. Isaac Watts- John/Charles Wesley (founders of Methodist Church 1729)- Used for Dr. Watts (lining out)