Amen Music of the Black Church Transcript
- [Announcer 1] "Amen! Music of the Black Church" is made possible by the Indiana University Office of the Bicentennial, celebrating two centuries of education and innovation at Indiana University. Information at 200.iu.edu.
- [Dr. Sykes] From the moment the first group of Africans arrived on the shores of America in 1619 through the present, African Americans have contributed significantly to the growth and advancement of this country while enduring many hardships and challenges. One of the most significant developments, however, was the establishment of the Black church. Whether built with invisible walls or real brick mortar, this institution has produced many and contributed greatly to help sustain the Black community through both good and bad times. ♪ Leaning on the Lord ♪ Through the music, Blacks were able to find and keep a song in their hearts that allowed them to make it through any trial. This music, which was primarily created as an expression of faith and response to the experience of the Black life in America, has played a significant role in shaping and influencing both sacred and secular music in America. ♪ We've come this far by faith ♪
- [Congregation] Yeah!
♪ Leaning on the Lord ♪
♪ Trusting in ♪
♪ Trusting in His holy word ♪
♪ The Lord has never failed ♪
♪ He's never failed me yet ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh, can't turn around ♪
♪ We've come this far by faith ♪
- The music of the Black church is varied and complex. The primary reason for such variation and complexity is the collision of the African and European cultures. The coming together of these two cultures and cultural aesthetics produced a uniquely African American cultural aesthetic that influenced the music of the Black church. And while the traditional music of the Black church has been adopted and adapted by many, much of it is being lost as many seasoned musicians are passing on. Now, to understand the unique qualities of the Black church, let us first travel back to Africa and consider some of the unique core musical elements Africans brought to America that influenced this music.
- The function of music is a communal activity that led to the development of slave song repertoires. And these repertoires provided a measure of release from the physical and spiritual brutality of slavery. Some Africans were brought to areas along the coast of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, known as the Georgia Islands, or the Gullah islands. Like in Africa, the Gullah people always centered their lives around faith. Some historians believe the song "Kumbaya" originated in the Gullah islands.
♪ Kumbaya ♪
- [Dr. Amoah-Ramey] Worshipers would form a circle, link arms, shuffle their feet, clap their hands in fast-paced rhythms, and move in counterclockwise manner. Someone called out a phrase and the rest responded. In this approach, they sang and danced until the Spirit descended upon them, and until they were caught up in the Spirit.
♪ You got a right, you got a right ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You got a right, you got a right ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You got a right, you got a right ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You got a right, you got a right ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ Run, Mary, run ♪ ♪ Oh, Lord ♪
♪ Run, Mary, run ♪ ♪ Oh, Lord ♪
♪ Run, Mary, run ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You got a right, you got a right ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You got a right, you got a right ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You got a right, you got a right ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You got a right, you got a right ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ Run, Mary, run ♪
♪ Oh, Lord ♪
♪ Run, Mary, run ♪
♪ Oh, Lord ♪
♪ Run, Mary, run ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You got a right, you got a right ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You got a right, you got a right ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You got a right, you got a right ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You got a right, you got a right ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ Run, Mary, run ♪
♪ Oh, Lord ♪
♪ Run, Mary, run ♪
♪ Oh, Lord ♪
♪ Run, Mary, run ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
- The development of the spiritual changed the course of music in America. The spirituals served many purposes. They were religious folk songs that the slaves used to praise their God. Yet, they were also work songs that allowed them to work together at a consistent pace. This music allowed the slaves to survive, and speak back to their oppressors, and tell their stories.
♪ Oh, freedom ♪
♪ Oh, freedom ♪
♪ Oh, freedom over me ♪
♪ And before I'd be a slave ♪
♪ I'd be buried in my grave ♪
♪ And go home to my Lord and be free ♪
- The conversion of the African granted them access to white denominational churches, where they were exposed to the music and worship styles of the Puritans and Pilgrims. They brought psalmody, which was the singing of the Psalms of the Bible. Blacks adopted and adapted psalmody and line singing. Line singing is still performed in some churches today, and it is probably the most commonly known of the early African American sacred musical genres. There was, however, yet another sacred musical genre that is not as well known that developed in the Black church: shape note singing.
- The creators of the shape note system published a hymn book called "The Sacred Harp." Blacks developed the colored sacred harp. They expanded the four-note so fa la system to 7 syllables. Do re mi fa so la ti do. Through this system, church singers began to sing in precise harmony and bring more order to church music. African Americans adopted this practice and few still sing this practice today.
- Say it
♪ Do do do la so mi so ♪
♪ Do do do la so mi la ♪
♪ Do do do la so mi so ♪
♪ Sorrows often meet us here ♪
♪ Burdens press us so ♪
♪ And the way is hard to see ♪
♪ That we have to go ♪
♪ But we press along in faith ♪
♪ To our home above ♪
♪ Letting Jesus lead us on ♪
♪ Resting in His love ♪
♪ What a happy time 'twill be ♪
♪ When we all get home ♪
♪ Over by the crystal sea ♪
♪ Never more to roam ♪
♪ In the homeland of the soul ♪
♪ Where the joy-bells chime ♪
♪ Singing while the ages roll ♪
♪ What a happy time ♪
♪ What a happy time 'twill be ♪
♪ When we all get home ♪
♪ Over by the crystal sea ♪
♪ Never more to roam ♪
♪ In the homeland of the soul ♪
♪ Where the joy-bells chime ♪
♪ Singing while the ages roll ♪
♪ What a happy time ♪
♪ What a happy time 'twill be ♪
♪ When we all get home ♪
♪ Over by the crystal sea ♪
♪ Nevermore to roam ♪
♪ In the homeland of the soul ♪
♪ Where the joy-bells chime ♪
♪ Singing while the ages roll ♪
♪ What a happy time ♪
♪ What a happy time 'twill be ♪
♪ When we all get home ♪
♪ Over by the crystal sea ♪
♪ Nevermore to roam ♪
♪ In the homeland of the soul ♪
♪ Where the joy-bells chime ♪
♪ Singing while the ages roll ♪
♪ What a happy time ♪
- Whether composed by a European or African American, hymns helped to express the human condition to which Blacks could relate. The same hymn might be performed differently from one Black church denomination to another. One of the most famous hymns to be performed in Black churches was "Amazing Grace." This hymn, penned by John Newton, a former slave captain, is said to be based upon an African melody that he heard the slaves singing. Let's consider "Amazing Grace" and demonstrate how it might be performed in different denominations.
♪ Amazing Grace ♪
♪ How sweet the sound ♪
♪ That saved a wretch like me ♪
♪ I once was lost ♪
♪ But now I'm found ♪
♪ I was blind ♪
♪ But now ♪
♪ I see ♪
♪ I see, I see ♪
♪ Amazing Grace ♪
- How sweet the sound.
♪ How sweet the sound ♪
- [Dr. Wise] That saved a wretch.
♪ That saved a wretch ♪
- Like me.
♪ Like me ♪
- I once was lost.
♪ I once was lost ♪
- But now I'm found.
♪ But now I'm found ♪
- Was blind but now I see.
♪ Was blind but now I see ♪
- That next verse goes, "Praise God, praise God."
♪ Praise God ♪
♪ Praise God ♪
♪ Praise God ♪
- Praise God.
♪ Praise God ♪
- [Dr. Wise] Praise God.
♪ Praise God ♪
♪ Praise God ♪
- Praise God.
♪ Praise God ♪
♪ Praise God ♪
♪ Praise God ♪
♪ Praise God ♪
♪ Praise God ♪
♪ Praise God ♪
♪ Praise God ♪
♪ Praise God ♪
- After the Civil War ended, many African Americans began to migrate to the northern cities to find work. One mindset said, "Now that we are free, we must demonstrate that we are equal to our white counterparts." It was at this time that many of the historically Black colleges and universities were established. Many HBCUs in need of money searched for ways to generate income to survive. One such university, Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, decided to put together a choir to go out on the road, and to perform to raise funds. They did not make much money performing classical music. However, one day they incorporated the spirituals into their performance.
♪ Lord, I keep so busy working for the kingdom ♪
♪ Keep so busy workin' for the kingdom ♪
♪ Keep so busy workin' for the kingdom ♪
♪ Ain't got time to die ♪
♪ 'Cause when I'm healing the sick ♪
♪ Mmm, I'm workin' for the kingdom ♪
♪ When I'm healing the sick ♪
♪ Mmm ♪
♪ I'm workin' for the kingdom ♪
♪ When I'm healing the sick ♪
♪ Mmm ♪
♪ I'm working for the kingdom ♪
♪ Ain't got time to die ♪
♪ 'Cause it takes all of my time ♪
♪ To praise my Jesus ♪
♪ All of my time ♪
♪ To praise my Lord ♪
♪ If I don't praise Him ♪
♪ The rocks gonna cry out ♪
♪ Glory and honor ♪
♪ Glory and honor ♪
♪ Ain't got time to die ♪
- In the days before televisions, when families would sit around the radio together, "Wings Over Jordan" was a popular family radio program that made broadcast history as the first independently produced national and international radio program created by African Americans.
♪ There is trouble all over this world ♪
♪ Yes, there is trouble all over this world ♪
♪ Children ♪
♪ There is trouble all over this world ♪
♪ There is trouble all over this world ♪
- Those Blacks who were considered upper class worshipped in churches where the European aesthetic was predominant. It was at these churches that one could hear the great sacred classical anthems of the church. So, one could find Black churches that worshipped from two different aesthetic perspectives. We will share one of the iconic anthems performed in Black churches and demonstrate how it was adapted to appeal to different congregations throughout the Black church.
♪ Lift up your heads all ye gates ♪
♪ Lift up your heads all ye gates ♪
♪ Lift up your heads all ye gates ♪
♪ And be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors ♪
♪ And the King of Glory shall come in ♪
♪ The King of Glory shall come in ♪
♪ The Lord, strong and mighty ♪
♪ The Lord, mighty in battle ♪
♪ He is the King ♪
♪ The King of Glory ♪
♪ The Lord ♪
♪ Lift your heads ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ Eternal gates ♪
♪ The Lord ♪
♪ Lift your heads ♪
♪ Mighty in battle ♪
♪ Eternal gates ♪
♪ He is the King ♪
♪ Be ye also ♪
♪ The King ♪
♪ Lifted up ♪
♪ Of Glory ♪
♪ Ye everlasting doors ♪
♪ Lift up your heads all ye gates ♪
♪ Lift up your heads all ye gates ♪
♪ Lift up your heads all ye gates ♪
♪ And be lifted up, ye everlasting doors ♪
♪ And the King of Glory shall come in ♪
♪ The King of Glory shall come in ♪
- Many musicians who began to study classical music on formal academic settings found that gospel music they played in their local churches was not accepted or welcomed in the academic setting and more affluent Black churches. So, as a compromise, they began to perform both the European classical anthems and gospel songs in their churches. Others began combining elements from the classical style with their gospel music to create a unique musical hybrid.
♪ And the King of Glory shall come in ♪
♪ The King of Glory shall come in ♪
♪ Lift up your heads all ye gates ♪
♪ Lift up your heads all ye gates ♪
♪ Lift up your heads all ye gates ♪
♪ Lift up your heads all ye gates ♪
♪ Lift up your head ♪
♪ Lift up your head ♪
♪ Ye everlasting doors ♪
♪ Ye everlasting doors ♪
♪ And let the King ♪
♪ And let the King ♪
♪ Of Glory come in ♪
♪ Lift up your heads all ye gates ♪
♪ Lift up your heads all ye gates ♪
♪ Lift up your heads all ye gates ♪
♪ Lift up your heads all ye gates ♪
♪ Lift up your head ♪
♪ Lift up your head, ye everlasting doors ♪
♪ And let the King, yeah ♪
♪ And let the King ♪
♪ Of Glory come in ♪
♪ Tell me who is the King of Glory ♪
♪ The Lord God, strong and mighty ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Captain of the battlefield ♪
♪ And King of Kings ♪
♪ We know the Lord God, strong and mighty ♪
♪ The Lord God ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Captain of the battlefield ♪
♪ And King of Kings ♪
♪ We know the Lord God, strong and mighty ♪
♪ I said the Lord ♪
♪ The Lord God ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ Captain of the battlefield ♪
♪ Yeah, oh yeah ♪
♪ And King of Kings ♪
♪ Oh yeah, oh yeah ♪
♪ Oh yeah ♪
♪ We know the Lord God ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ The Lord God ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ Oh, oh no ♪
♪ Captain of the battlefield ♪
♪ And King of Kings ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ We know the Lord God, strong and mighty ♪
♪ The Lord God ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ Ooh ♪
♪ Captain of the battlefield ♪
♪ And King of Kings ♪
♪ Ooh ♪
♪ We know the Lord God, strong and mighty ♪
♪ The Lord God ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ Captain of the battlefield ♪
♪ And King of Kings ♪
♪ Oh, oh ♪
♪ We know the Lord God ♪
♪ Hey, oh ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ Whoa, oh ♪
♪ The Lord God ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ Oh yeah ♪
♪ Captain of the battlefield ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, ooh yeah ♪
♪ And King of Kings ♪
♪ We know the Lord God, strong and mighty ♪
♪ The Lord God ♪
♪ Hey ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ Captain of the battlefield ♪
♪ And King of Kings ♪
♪ We know the Lord God, strong and mighty ♪
♪ The Lord God ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ Captain of the battlefield ♪
♪ And King of Kings ♪
♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪
♪ We know the Lord God ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ The Lord God ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ Oh, whoa, whoa ♪
♪ Captain of the battlefield ♪
♪ And King of Kings ♪
♪ Whoa, whoa, whoa ♪
♪ We know the Lord God ♪
♪ Whoa, oh ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ The Lord God, strong and mighty ♪
♪ Oh, praise be to Him ♪
♪ Captain of the battlefield ♪
♪ Praise be to Him ♪
♪ And King of Kings ♪
♪ Praise be to Him, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ We know the Lord God, strong and mighty ♪
♪ The Lord God ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ Hey ♪
♪ Captain of the battlefield ♪
♪ And King of Kings ♪
♪ We know the Lord God, strong and mighty ♪
♪ The Lord God ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ Ooh ♪
♪ Captain of the battlefield ♪
♪ Ooh ooh ♪
♪ And King of Kings ♪
♪ Ooh ♪
♪ We know the Lord God, strong and mighty ♪
♪ The Lord God ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ Hey ♪
♪ Captain of the battlefield ♪
♪ Hey, hoo way ♪
♪ And King of Kings ♪
♪ We know the Lord God ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ Oh yeah ♪
♪ The Lord God ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Captain of the battlefield ♪
♪ Mighty, mighty God ♪
♪ And King of Kings ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ We know the Lord God, strong and mighty ♪
♪ Lift up your heads all ye gates ♪
♪ Lift up your heads all ye gates ♪
♪ Lift up your heads all ye gates ♪
♪ Lift up your heads ♪
♪ Lift up your heads, ye everlasting doors ♪
♪ And let the King ♪
♪ And let the King of Glory come in ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
- You want one more?
♪ The Lord God ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ Captain of the battlefield ♪
♪ And King of Kings ♪
♪ We know the Lord God ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ The Lord God ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ Captain of the battlefield ♪
♪ And King of Kings ♪
♪ Whoa ♪
♪ We know the Lord God ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ Hey, whoa ♪
♪ The Lord God ♪
♪ Hey ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ Captain of the battlefield ♪
♪ And King of Kings ♪
♪ We know the Lord God ♪
♪ Hallelujah ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ The Lord God ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ Strength, glory ♪
♪ Captain of the battlefield ♪
♪ Strength, glory ♪
♪ And King of Kings ♪
♪ Say ♪
♪ We know the Lord God ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ I said, the Lord ♪
♪ The Lord God, strong ♪
♪ The Lord God, strong ♪
♪ I said, the Lord ♪
♪ The Lord God, strong ♪
- [Congregation] Go ahead!
♪ Oh whoa ♪
♪ The Lord God, strong ♪
♪ Oh, whoa ♪
♪ The Lord God, strong ♪
♪ Whoa, oh ♪
♪ The Lord God, strong ♪
♪ Hey ♪
♪ The Lord God, strong ♪
♪ The Lord God, strong ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ The Lord God, strong ♪
♪ Whoa ♪
♪ The Lord God, strong ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ The Lord God, strong and mighty ♪
♪ Captain of the battlefield ♪
♪ And King of Kings ♪
♪ We know the Lord God ♪
♪ Oh, whoa ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ The Lord God ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪
♪ Come on ♪
♪ Captain of the battlefield ♪
♪ Come on, come on ♪
♪ And clap your hands, yeah ♪
♪ And King of Kings ♪
♪ Come on and clap your hands ♪
♪ We know the Lord God ♪
♪ Strong and mighty ♪ ♪ Mighty ♪
- All right.
- All right, now.
- [Congregation] Preach! Yeah!
- Yes, indeed. Yes, indeed.
♪ Yeah ♪
- Yes, indeed.
♪ Whoa oh ♪
- [Congregation] Right on!
♪ Whoa oh ♪
♪ The Lord God, strong ♪
♪ The Lord God, strong ♪
♪ The Lord God, strong ♪
♪ The Lord God, strong ♪
- Now, on the other side of town
- [Congregation] Huh? Huh?
- They had what they called devotions.
- [Congregation] Uh-huh. Yeah. Yeah.
- [Dr. Wise] They wanted to worship according to the African tradition and feel the presence of the Spirit.
- [Congregation] Mm-hmm.
- [Dr. Wise] They sang congregational spirituals, like "This Little Light of Mine".
- [Congregation] Uh-huh. Yes.
- [Dr. Wise] "I'm a Soldier in the Army of the Lord," "Glory, Glory, Hallelujah," "Jesus on the Mainline." Now, on the other side of town, the same song, "Lift Up Your Head," would probably sound something like this. Like this.
♪ Lift up your heads ♪
♪ Lift up your heads ♪
♪ Lift up your heads all ye gates ♪
♪ Lift it up, ye everlasting doors ♪
♪ And the King of Glory shall come in ♪
♪ Come on and sing with me, lift up your heads ♪
♪ Lift up your heads ♪
♪ Lift up ♪
♪ Lift up your heads ♪
♪ Lift up your heads all ye gates ♪
♪ Lift up your heads all ye gates ♪
♪ Be lifted up ♪
♪ Be lifted up, ye ever ♪
♪ Ye everlasting doors ♪
♪ And the glory ♪
♪ And the King of Glory ♪
♪ Shall come in ♪
♪ Shall, you got it? ♪
♪ Come on, join in with, lift up ♪
♪ Lift up your heads ♪
♪ Lift up your heads ♪
♪ Lift up your heads all ye gates ♪
♪ Be lifted up ♪
♪ Be lifted up ♪
♪ Ye everlasting doors ♪
♪ Be lifted ♪
♪ Be lifted up ♪
♪ Ye everlasting doors ♪
♪ Ye everlasting, be lifted ♪
♪ Be lifted up ♪
♪ Ye everlasting doors ♪
♪ And the King ♪
♪ And the King of Glory shall come in ♪
♪ Then they'd sing this song ♪
♪ Glory, glory ♪
- [Congregation] Oh, yeah!
♪ Hallelujah ♪
♪ Since I laid my burdens down ♪
♪ Glory, glory ♪
♪ Hallelujah ♪
♪ Since I laid my burdens down ♪
♪ Burdens down ♪
♪ Burdens down, Lord ♪
♪ Burdens down ♪
♪ Burdens down, Lord ♪
♪ Since I laid ♪
♪ Since I laid my ♪
♪ My burdens down ♪
♪ Burdens down ♪
♪ Burdens down ♪
♪ Burdens down, Lord ♪
♪ Burdens, burdens ♪
♪ Burdens down, Lord ♪
♪ Oh, since I laid ♪
♪ Since I laid my burdens down ♪
♪ Oh yeah ♪
♪ Friends don't treat me ♪
♪ Friends don't treat me ♪
♪ Like they used to ♪
♪ Like they used to ♪
♪ Since I laid ♪
♪ Since I laid my burdens down ♪
♪ Friends don't treat me ♪
♪ Friends don't treat me ♪
♪ Like they used to ♪
♪ Like they used to ♪
♪ Since I laid ♪
♪ Since I laid my burdens down ♪
♪ And they'd sing this verse next, they'd say ♪
♪ I feel better, so much better ♪
♪ So much better ♪
♪ Since I laid ♪
♪ Since I laid my burdens down ♪
♪ I feel better ♪
♪ I feel better ♪
♪ So much better ♪
♪ So much better ♪
♪ Since I laid ♪
♪ Since I laid my burdens down ♪
♪ Whoa, yeah ♪
♪ Then they'd sing a song like this, that says ♪
♪ Jesus on the mainline ♪
♪ Tell Him what you want ♪
♪ I said, Jesus on the mainline ♪
♪ Tell Him what you want ♪
♪ Whoa ♪ ♪ Jesus on the mainline ♪
♪ Tell Him what you want ♪
♪ Have to call Him up ♪
♪ Call Him up and tell Him what you want ♪
♪ Whoa, call Him up ♪
♪ Call, call Him up ♪
♪ Call Him up, call Him up ♪
♪ Tell Him what you want ♪
♪ Tell Him what you want ♪
♪ Why don't you call Him ♪
♪ Call Him up, call Him up ♪
♪ And tell Him ♪
♪ Tell Him what you want ♪
♪ All you got to do is call ♪
♪ Call Him up, call Him up ♪
♪ Tell Him what you want ♪
♪ Jesus ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ Call Him up, yeah ♪
♪ And tell Him what you want ♪
♪ Whoa, if you want more power ♪
♪ If you want more power ♪
♪ Tell Him what you want ♪
♪ If you want more power ♪
♪ If you want more power ♪
♪ Tell Him what you want ♪
♪ Tell Him what you want ♪
♪ If you want more power ♪
♪ If you want more power ♪
♪ Tell Him what you want ♪
♪ Tell Him what you want ♪
♪ Whoa, call Him ♪
♪ Call Him up and tell Him what you want ♪
♪ And that second verse, if you want the Holy Ghost ♪
♪ If you want the Holy Ghost ♪
♪ Tell Him what you want ♪
♪ If you want the Holy Ghost ♪
♪ If you want the Holy Ghost ♪
♪ All you gotta do is just tell Him ♪
♪ Tell Him what you want ♪
♪ If you want the Holy Ghost ♪
♪ If you want the Holy Ghost ♪
♪ All you got to do is tell Him ♪
♪ Tell Him what you want ♪
♪ Whoa, call Him ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ And tell Him what you want ♪
♪ Say, call Him up ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ Why don't you call Him up ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ Won't you call Him up ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ Won't you call Him up ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ If you need a doctor ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ Yeah, call Him up ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ If you need a lawyer ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ Won't you call Him up ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ If you need a healing ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ Won't you call Him up ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ If you need healing in your body ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ Won't you call Him up ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ If you need more power ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ Won't you call Him up ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ If you want to be saved ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ Won't you call Him up ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ A burden bearer ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ Won't you call Him up ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ You need a heavy load sharer ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ Won't you call Him up ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ Whatever you need ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ Just call Him up ♪
♪ Whoa yeah ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ Whatever you need ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ Won't you call Him up ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ Whatever you need ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ Won't you call Him up ♪
♪ Yes ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ Won't you call Him up ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ Won't you call Him up ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ Won't you call Him up ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ Won't you call Him up ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ Won't you call Him up ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ Won't you call Him up ♪
♪ Call Him up ♪
♪ Jesus on ♪
♪ Jesus on the mainline ♪
♪ Tell Him what you want ♪
♪ Jesus on the mainline ♪
♪ Jesus on the mainline ♪
♪ All you got to do is tell Him ♪
♪ Tell Him what you want ♪
♪ Jesus on the mainline ♪
♪ Jesus on the mainline ♪
♪ All you got to do is tell Him ♪
♪ Tell Him what you want ♪
♪ Call Him up and tell Him what you want ♪
- Worship in the African American tradition is not a noun. It's a verb. Blacks go to church to worship, and they go to do something. And that is what makes music in the Black church so important. It inspires you to keep walking through life until you reach your goal. So, the music has been created in the Black church to serve different functions throughout the worship service, and is intended to meet a specific theological, spiritual, or practical need. For example, when we did the processional, we came in with "We've Come This Far By Faith."
- [Congregation] Uh-huh. Yeah. Uh-huh.
- But when prayer time came.
- [Congregation] Mm-hmm.
- And altar call time came, they might sing this song.
♪ I need Thee, O I need Thee ♪
♪ Every hour, I need Thee ♪
♪ O bless me now, my Savior ♪
♪ I come to Thee ♪
♪ I need Thee, O I need Thee ♪
- [Congregation] Come on, now, come on!
♪ Every hour, I need Thee ♪
♪ O bless me now, my Savior ♪
♪ I come ♪
♪ I come ♪
♪ I come to Thee ♪
- [Congregation] Oh, yes!
- And when it was time for offering, you might hear this song going.
♪ You can't beat God's giving ♪
♪ No matter how you try ♪
♪ And just as sure as you are living ♪
♪ And the Lord is in Heaven on high ♪
♪ The more you give, the more He gives to you ♪
♪ Just keep on giving because it's really true ♪
♪ That you can't beat God's giving ♪
♪ No matter how you try ♪
- Now, in the Black church, after the sermon, churches gave people a chance to publicly show their expression of faith and commitment, and offer them an invitation to join the church or to join God. And when it was time for the invitation to discipleship, many churches may have sung this song. ♪ Come to Jesus ♪
- [Congregation] Yeah!
♪ Come to Jesus ♪
- [Congregation] Come on now!
♪ Come to Jesus just now ♪
♪ Just now ♪
♪ Come to Jesus ♪
♪ Come to Jesus just now ♪
♪ Come to Jesus ♪
♪ Come to Jesus ♪
♪ Come to Jesus just now ♪
♪ Just now ♪
♪ Come to Jesus ♪
♪ Come to Jesus just now ♪
- And the Black church has always been a place where Blacks were free to address the issues of the day. And consequently, many of the major civil rights movements stemmed from the activism of Black preachers and their congregations. And one song originally composed as a hymn was transformed into one of the most well-known civil rights protest songs of all time.
♪ We shall overcome ♪
♪ We shall overcome ♪
♪ We shall overcome someday ♪
♪ Deep in my heart ♪
♪ I do believe ♪
♪ We shall overcome someday ♪
♪ We shall overcome ♪
♪ We shall overcome ♪
♪ We shall overcome someday ♪
♪ Deep in my heart ♪
♪ I do believe ♪
♪ We shall overcome someday ♪
- Now, it was in these storefront Pentecostal churches...
- [Congregation] Amen.
- [Dr. Wise] That Black church music evolved. For their music, they hired and embraced whoever was willing to play in their small churches, and those who were willing to play in these churches were musicians who played blues and jazz during the week. So, when these musicians came to play in these storefront churches, they did not leave their blues and jazz at the door. They brought it in with them and began combining it with the hymns and spirituals of the church to form gospel music.
- [Congregation] Yeah.
- Now, gospel music developed in the late 1920s and '30s, and turned the Black church world inside out upside down. This new music contained blues and jazz rhythms and harmonies, and it applied elements of the African aesthetic, like the pentatonic scale, and call and response, and flatted notes, and syncopation, and repetition, and improvisation. Now, eventually in the mid-forties, gospel music was accepted, and we entered what we call the golden age of gospel. Now, during this age, we get the singers that composed most of the classic songs that would be performed in most of our Black churches.
♪ Lord, keep ♪
♪ Lord, keep ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ Me day by day ♪
♪ In a pure ♪
♪ In a pure ♪
♪ And perfect way ♪
♪ And perfect way ♪
♪ I want to live ♪
♪ I want to live ♪
♪ I want to live, oh ♪
♪ I want to live, oh ♪
♪ In a building ♪
♪ In a building not made ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ By hand ♪
♪ Hey, God ♪
♪ Keep my body strong ♪
♪ Lord, keep ♪
♪ Hey, hey ♪
♪ My body strong ♪
♪ So that I can do no wrong ♪
♪ So that I can do no wrong ♪
♪ Oh, Lord, give me grace ♪
♪ Lord, give me grace ♪
♪ Just to run ♪
♪ This Christian race, Lord ♪
♪ To a building, yes ♪
♪ To a building not made ♪
♪ By hand ♪
♪ Lord, keep ♪
♪ Lord, keep ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ Me day by day ♪
♪ In a pure and perfect way ♪
♪ In a pure and perfect way ♪
♪ Lord, I want to live ♪
♪ I want to live ♪
♪ I want to live, Lord ♪
♪ I want to live, Lord ♪
♪ In a building, yes ♪
♪ In a building not made ♪
♪ By hand ♪
♪ Lord, do it ♪
- [Congregation] Yeah!
♪ Lord, do it ♪
- [Congregation] Bring it back! C'mon, y'all! Yeah!
♪ Say, Lord, do it ♪
♪ Lord, do it for me ♪
♪ Say, Lord, do it, yeah ♪
♪ Lord, do it ♪
♪ Do it for me, Lord ♪
♪ Do it for me ♪
♪ Right now ♪
♪ Right now ♪
♪ Say, Lord ♪
♪ Oh, Lord Jesus ♪
♪ Lord, do it ♪
♪ This is my prayer for you, O Lord ♪
♪ Lord, do it for me ♪
♪ Say, Lord, Lord, O Lord ♪
♪ Lord, do it ♪
♪ Do it for me ♪
♪ Lord, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Do it for me right now ♪
♪ Say, do it for me, Lord ♪
♪ Do it for me right now ♪
♪ Ooh ♪
♪ Do it for me right now ♪
♪ Say, Lord, oh, oh ♪
♪ Do it for me right now ♪
♪ Come on, y'all, sing! Lord ♪
♪ Do it for me right now ♪
♪ Somebody in here needs a miracle, sing, Lord, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Do it for me right now ♪
♪ Sometimes you got to get on your knees and say ♪
♪ Lord, help me, please ♪
♪ Do it for me ♪
♪ Do it for me right now ♪
♪ Whoa ♪
♪ Come on, y'all, and say, Lord ♪
♪ Do it for me ♪
♪ Right now ♪
♪ Right now ♪
- In 1969, a young man by the name of Edwin Hawkins...
- [Congregation] Yeah! Uh-huh!
- Rearranged a hymn entitled "Oh Happy Day," and turned the gospel world upside down.
- [Congregation] Yeah.
- This iconic arrangement was considered to be the beginning of what we call the contemporary era of gospel music.
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ When Jesus washed ♪
♪ When Jesus washed ♪
♪ When Jesus washed ♪
♪ When Jesus washed ♪
♪ Oh, my Jesus washed ♪
♪ When Jesus washed ♪
♪ Washed my sins away ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ When Jesus washed ♪
♪ When Jesus washed ♪
♪ My Jesus washed ♪
♪ When Jesus washed ♪
♪ My Jesus washed ♪
♪ When Jesus washed ♪
♪ He washed my sins away ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ He taught me how ♪
♪ He taught me how ♪
♪ To watch ♪
♪ To watch ♪
♪ And fight and pray ♪
♪ Fight and pray ♪
♪ To fight and pray ♪
♪ And live rejoicing ♪
♪ I raise voice to you, Lord ♪
♪ Every day ♪
♪ Every day, every day ♪
♪ Every day ♪
♪ Ah, happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ When Jesus washed ♪
♪ When Jesus washed ♪
♪ Oh, when He washed ♪
♪ When Jesus washed ♪
♪ My Jesus washed ♪
♪ When Jesus washed ♪
♪ He washed my sins away ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Ah, happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ He taught me how ♪
♪ He taught me how ♪
♪ To watch ♪
♪ To watch ♪
♪ To fight and pray ♪
♪ To fight and pray ♪
♪ Fight and pray ♪
♪ Who knows you can rejoice? ♪
♪ And live rejoicing ♪
♪ Rejoice ♪
♪ Every day ♪
♪ Every day! Good God ♪
♪ Every day ♪
♪ Every day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Ah, it's a happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Ah, it's a happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Ah, it's a happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Oh, it's a happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ I'm talkin' 'bout a happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Oh, it's a happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ I'm talkin' 'bout a happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Said when I get to Heaven ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ What a day it'll be ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ I said when I get to Heaven ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ My Savior's face I'll see ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Ah, happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ When Jesus washed ♪
♪ When Jesus washed ♪
♪ When Jesus washed ♪
♪ When Jesus washed ♪
♪ My Jesus washed ♪
♪ When Jesus washed ♪
♪ Washed my sins away ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
♪ Oh, happy day ♪
- We are currently living in an era where gospel music has crossed over outside of the Black church to be performed in non-African American churches, academia, and globally. Through it all, the music of the Black church has provided hope that one day we will all get to freedom.
♪ Yeah, I've got a robe ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ You've got a robe ♪
♪ All of God's children got a robe, robe, robe, robe ♪
♪ When I get to Heaven, gonna put on my robe ♪
♪ I want to walk, walk, walk 'round Heaven all day ♪
♪ I've got shoes ♪
♪ You've got shoes ♪
♪ All of God's children got shoes ♪
♪ When I get to Heaven, gonna put on my shoes ♪
♪ I want to walk, walk, walk and spread the news ♪
♪ When I get there ♪
♪ How happy I will be ♪
♪ When I get there ♪
♪ The Savior's face I'll see ♪
♪ When I get there ♪
♪ How happy I will be ♪
♪ When I get there ♪
♪ The Savior's face I'll see ♪
♪ When I get there ♪
♪ How happy I will be ♪
♪ When I get there ♪
♪ The Savior's face I'll see ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Yeah, walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ Walk ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ And tell the story ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ Shout ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ How I made it over ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ Walk ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ And tell the story ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ Shout ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ How I made it over ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ Walk ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ And tell the story ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ Shout ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ How I made it over ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ Walk ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ And tell the story ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ Shout ♪
♪ Walk around Heaven all day ♪
♪ How I made it over ♪
♪ Walk ♪
- And as you have taken this journey with us through the history of music of the Black church, we hope that it has been informative, it's been entertaining, and it's been inspiring. But, more importantly, we hope that you now understand how and why this music has been used to bring hope and healing to African Americans. Amen is the right word to conclude our journey today. So, we say to you, thanks for joining us and let the church say, "Hallelujah."
- [Congregation] Hallelujah.
- Amen.
♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪
♪ Praise the Lord, amen ♪
♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪
♪ Praise the Lord, amen ♪
♪ Praise Him in the sanctuary ♪
♪ Praise Him in the firmament of His pow'r ♪
♪ Praise Him for His mighty acts ♪
♪ Mighty acts ♪
♪ Praise Him according to His excellent greatness ♪
♪ Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet ♪
♪ Praise Him with the psaltery and harp ♪
♪ Praise Him with the timbrel and dance ♪
♪ And every single string instrument and organ ♪
♪ Praise Him with the loud sounding cymbal ♪
♪ Praise Him with the high sounding cymbal ♪
♪ Let everything, let everything ♪
♪ Let everything with breath praise our Lord ♪
♪ Praise our Lord ♪
♪ Praise our Lord ♪
♪ Holy Lord ♪
♪ Amen ♪
♪ Amen ♪
♪ Amen ♪
- [Dr. Wise] Thank you.
♪ You got a right, you got a right ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You got a right, you got a right ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You got a right, you got a right ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ Run, Mary, run ♪
♪ Oh, Lord ♪
♪ Run, Mary, run ♪
♪ Oh, Lord ♪
♪ Run, Mary, run ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
♪ You've got a right to the tree of life ♪
- [Announcer 2] For a DVD or Blu-Ray disc of this program, or other WTIU-produced programs, go online at www.shopwtiu.org.
- [Announcer 1] "Amen! Music of the Black Church" is made possible by the Indiana University Office of the Bicentennial, celebrating two centuries of education and innovation at Indiana University. Information at 200.iu.
