music 203, colonial & 19th century anglo sacred music & african american musical roots

What key religious movement influenced Anglo sacred music?

The Protestant Reformation.

Who were two key figures in the Protestant Reformation?

Martin Luther and John Calvin.

What aspects of Catholicism did the Protestant Reformation challenge?

Key Catholic beliefs, state religion, and church hierarchy.

What musical tradition did Anglo settlers bring to the U.S.?

Plainsong—singing in parts with no instrumental accompaniment.

Who authored The Book of Psalms: Englished Both in Prose & Metre?

Reverend Henry Ainsworth.

What was The Bay Psalm Book, and how was it different?

It was an early American psalm book that used simplified meters.

What is psalm meter based on?

The number of syllables per line.

What are the three types of psalm meter, and their syllable counts?

• Long meter: 8.8.8.8

• Common meter: 8.6.8.6

• Short meter: 6.6.8.6

How was music used in early psalm books?

As a vehicle for delivering religious words.

What were the two primary purposes of sacred music?

• Praise – Direct praise of God.

• Edification – Intellectual, moral, and spiritual improvement

What was the traditional style of singing called?

Lining out, also known as "the usual way."

What was a criticism of lining out?

Some called it “praising God by piece-meal.”

What is an example of a hymn sung using lining out?

"Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah."

Where was shape note singing popular?

In the South and rural North.

What syllables were used in shape note singing?

Fa-sol-la-mi

Where was the melody typically placed in shape note hymns?

in middle voice

What was The Sacred Harp (1844)?

A shape note hymnbook.

How did black communities contribute to shape note singing?

Through The Colored Sacred Harp (1934), which featured African American composers.

What was the political message of Sacred Harp singing?

Democratic music-making.

What were criticisms of Sacred Harp music?

Critics called it “dunce notes” and debated “scientific” vs. “unscientific” music.

Where was the singing school tradition centered?

In New England.

What was the purpose of singing schools?

To teach "regular singing" in churches.

Who was considered the first American composer of note?

William Billings.

What were two of Billings' major works?

• The New England Psalm-Singer (1770)

• The Singing Master’s Assistant (1778)

How was Billings personally described?

As a “singular man of uncommon negligence of person.”

What was Billings' view on composing music?

He believed every composer should be his own carver.

what tradition was lowell mason born into?

singing school tradition

What was Mason’s impact on children’s music education?

Boston Handel & Haydn Society Collection of Church Music.

What was Mason’s impact on children’s music education?

• He started children’s singing schools in 1830 with 1,500 students in the first year.

• He aimed for universal music literacy.

What was Mason’s instructional book for music education?

Manual of Boston Academy of Music.

What were the five steps of Mason’s teaching system?

• Teach singing before notation (reading).

• Use active learning.

• Teach one element at a time.

• Master each step before moving on.

• Introduce theory and principles after practice.

How did Mason approach the business of music?

• He combined composing, performing, and publishing.

• He operated on multiple levels.

• He negotiated favorable royalties.

What movement influenced urban gospel music?

urban revivalism

Who were key figures in urban revivalism?

Dwight L. Moody and Ira Sankey.

Where did the transatlantic slave trade originate?

West Africa, with connections to Europe and as far as Asia.

What crop was the driving force of the U.S. economy during slavery?

cotton

Why was cotton production a constant economic need?

It depleted soil, requiring new land for cultivation.

What did the Emancipation Proclamation (1863) do?

It outlawed slavery in Confederate states.

What amendments were passed after the Civil War to protect Black rights?

• 13th Amendment (1865): Abolished slavery.

• 14th Amendment (1868): Granted birthright citizenship.

• 15th Amendment (1870): Gave Black men the right to vote.

What law ended segregation in the U.S.?

The Civil Rights Act of 1964

What law protected voting rights for African Americans?

The Voting Rights Act of 1965

Why is there little written documentation of early Black music?

Most early Black Americans were unable to read or write.

What sources do historians rely on to study early Black music?

Oral culture and Euro-American written accounts (diaries, reading between the lines).

What is an important distinction about Africa as a continent?

It is not a single country but a diverse continent with many cultures.

What are some key characteristics of African music?

• Emphasis on percussion

• Polyrhythms (interlocking, multilayered rhythms)

• Call & response (lead singer with chorus improvisation)

• Heterogeneous sound (variety of percussion instruments & voices)

• Integration of music into daily life

What role does dance play in African music traditions?

It is an essential part of musical expression.

What challenges did enslaved Africans face in the New World?

• Separation from their communities

• Trauma from slavery and violence

• Adapting to the culture of slave owners

How did Black culture develop differently in Northern and Southern states?

• North: Urban areas, greater acculturation.

• South: Rural plantation culture, less interaction with whites, stronger African cultural retentions.

What were some Southern Black music traditions tied to holidays?

• Christmas

• Election Days

• Pinkster (day after Easter)

What are some examples of African American musical activities during slavery?

• Period accounts

• Professional dance musicians

• Advertisements for musical performances

What role did music play in the daily lives of enslaved people?

It was used in labor, communication, and religious expression.

What was the purpose of field hollers?

To help workers communicate and express emotions while working.

What purpose did work songs serve?

They kept workers unified and in rhythm during labor.

What were the dominant denominations for Black religious music in the North and South?

• North: Methodists (Trinity Church in New York).

• South: Baptists.

Why was there controversy over converting slaves to Christianity?

• Some saw conversion as saving their souls.

• Others feared it would encourage rebellion or make slaves less obedient.

What were the Great Awakenings, and when did they occur?

Evangelical revivals in 1730-1740s and 1780-1830.

How did African Americans participate in these revivals?

Blacks and whites worshiped together outdoors, though African Americans were still segregated.

Who criticized the Great Awakenings?

Conservative Methodists.

Who was Richard Allen?

The first Black preacher, appointed in Philadelphia in 1784.

What church did Richard Allen found?

The African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in 1794.

What was Richard Allen’s contribution to Black sacred music?

He compiled A Collection of Spiritual Songs & Hymns (1801).

What is a "wandering refrain"?

A repeated phrase in hymns that expands the song.

What was the first Black-controlled religious congregation?

The Georgia Sea Island Singers.

How did hymn singing change in Black churches?

European hymns transformed into African American spirituals.

How did spirituals encode messages about slavery and escape?

They used biblical imagery to symbolize real-life struggles.

What were common coded meanings in spirituals?

• Israelites = Enslaved Africans

• Pharaoh = Slave owners

• Chariot = Underground Railroad

• Canaan = The North (freedom)

What African musical traits persisted in African American music?

• Vocal style

• Polyrhythms (hand claps, foot stomping)

• Call & response

• Improvisation

• Sacred and secular music continuity

How was African American music both communal and individualistic?

It was integrated into the social fabric, allowing for personal and group expression.