Gospel Music Vocabulary

Flashcards for reviewing lecture notes on Gospel music, focusing on key vocabulary and definitions.

Gospel

The message of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Dinwiddie Colored Quartet

Recorded the first known Gospel record, though it wasn't initially recognized as a genre.

Dixie Hummingbirds

Gospel group that influenced the Temptations with their dance routines and singing style; performed at the Newport Jazz Festival.

Thomas A. Dorsey

Pushed the sound of gospel music and wrote deep songs for the church, developing melodies from the blues; wrote "Precious Lord, Take My Hand."

Golden Gate Quartet

Gospel group that attracted both black and white audiences and had a radio broadcast on CBS; first gospel group to perform at the White House.

Foli

A rhythm project where everything is work and sound, emphasizing rhythm in daily activities; three notes to one beat (triplet).

Extempore song (extemporaneous)

Unscripted/improvised song; improvisation is a main component of African music.

Idiophones

Instruments made of any material that can make sound, such as bells, gongs made of iron, sticks, and rattles.

Chordophones

String instruments, including lute or fiddle types, harp and lyre types, and a simple musical bow unique to Africa.

Aerophones

Wind instruments, including flutes, horns, and trumpets made from elephant tusks or animal horns.

Membranophone

Drums that came in various sizes and shapes, often made of hollow trunks and beat with a stick.

Mbira

Thumb piano popular with female performance associations.

Griot(Greo)

A musical family lineage; individuals are born into this role.

Call and response

A musical form where instruments or voices play one thing and something is played back in response.

Lining out (Repetition)

A style of singing where a leader chants a line, and the congregation repeats the line exactly.

The Society of Colored People

An organization was formed when slavery was legal in all 13 colonies to support the welfare of its servants.

The Great Awakening

A period of religious revival in the 1730s that was a catalyst for the evolution of gospel music and hymns.

Log College

A seminary started by William Tenant to train individuals seeking to be part of the clergy.

Hymns

Inspirational songs that can be taken from a poem or scripture about God; scripture put to music.

George Leile

The first licensed Baptist missionary preacher (of any color) in America.

Spiritual song

Songs that are spontaneous, controlled by the spirit, and convey relatable messages with catchy and repetitive melodies; emerged during the Second Great Awakening.

Camp Meeting

Interracial protestant people meeting in the woods during the Second Great Awakening.

The Ring Shout

An earliest account of a religious dance ceremony of African origin involving a circular formation and shuffling.

Blackface Minstrelsy

A theatrical performance that emerged during the 1820s, exploiting the music and dance of slaves with white men blackening their faces.

Arminianism

Belief that God wants everyone to go to heaven, and it's an individual's choice to accept or reject salvation.

Jubilee Singers

introduced 'slave songs' to the world in 1871 and were instrumental in preserving this unique American musical tradition known today as Negro spirituals.

Invisible institution/church

Black folks still held religious meetings in secret despite the laws of the south-prohibiting of black folks.

Bush harbors

Meeting in deep woods in remote ravines, gullies or secluded thickets to escape detection.

James Edward Cleveland

• "Crowned Prince of Gospel."

• Successor to Dorsey, shaping modern gospel choir music.

• Known for "Peace Be Still" and "Jesus Saves."

• First gospel artist with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star.

Andrae Crouch

• Quote: "Doesn’t matter who you are, we all can hear God’s voice through spoken word. 'Reduced to juice.'"

• Father of the modern gospel movement.

• Wrote songs like "The Blood," "My Tribute," and "Soon and Very Soon."

• First gospel songwriter to have his songs appear in modern hymnals.

• Through hit song in trash The Blood,"

Smokey Robinson

• Believes in the marvelous things God has done for the Universe and his personal life.

• As a youth, found the Holy Spirit’s manifestations (shouting, passion, emotion) "scary."

Dinwiddie Colored Quartet

• First known Gospel record, but wasn’t recognized because Gospel wasn’t yet a defined genre.

• Preceded African blues and other musicians.

Dixie Hummingbirds

• Influenced The Temptations with their dance routines and singing style.

• Performed at the Newport Jazz Festival (1966).

Thomas A. Dorsey

• "Father of Gospel Music."

• Wrote deep songs for the church with melodies rooted in blues (e.g., "Precious Lord, Take My Hand").

• Organized the first Gospel chorus at Ebenezer Baptist Church.

• Founded the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses (1932).

• Merged blues and religious music, creating the modern gospel sound.

Mahalia Jackson

• Dorsey’s demonstrator—she performed his songs nationwide.

• First million-selling gospel hit: "Move On Up a Little Higher."

• Sang at the March on Washington alongside MLK.

• Refused to sing secular music (blues/jazz) due to her beliefs.

Golden Gate Quartet

• Attracted both Black and white audiences.

• Had a CBS radio broadcast, spreading their sound nationally.

• First gospel group to perform at the White House (under FDR).

The Caravans

• Prominent gospel group in the 1950s-60s.

• Known for their powerful harmonies and emotional delivery

Fisk Jubilee Singers

• Introduced slave spirituals to the world in 1871.

• First major Black vocal group to tour internationally.

• Sang for Queen Victoria, raising funds for Fisk University.

Popularized songs like "Steal Away" and "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot."

Arizona Dranes

• "Forgotten Mother of the Gospel Beat."

• Blind pianist who blended ragtime and blues into gospel.

• Influenced Thomas Dorsey, Rosetta Tharpe, and later rock artists like Little Richard.

• Recorded with Okeh Records in the 1920s.

Edwin Hawkins

• Created the urban contemporary gospel sound.

• Hit song "Oh Happy Day" (1969) crossed into secular charts.

• Co-founded the Northern California Youth Choir.

Sallie Martin

• Co-founded the National Convention of Gospel Choirs with Dorsey.

• Established a gospel music publishing company with Kenneth Morris.

Popularized "Just a Closer Walk With Thee."

Roberta Martin

• Developed a distinctive gospel piano style.

• Founded the Roberta Martin Singers and her own music studio.

• Known for melismatic singing and vibrant arrangements.

Willie Mae Ford Smith

• Pioneered gospel music outside the church (Kiel Auditorium).

• Featured in the documentary Say Amen, Somebody.

• Mentored many gospel artists, including James Cleveland.

Rosetta Tharpe

• First gospel star to play electric guitar.

• Blended blues and gospel, controversially crossing into secular music.

• Influenced Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Chuck Berry.

Clara Ward

• Performed at the Newport Jazz Festival, bridging gospel and secular audiences.

• Known for flamboyant style and vocal prowess.

Shirley Caesar

• Overcame segregation-era struggles (e.g., denied hotel stays).

• Turned down $100,000 secular deal to stay in gospel.

The Clark Sisters

• From Detroit, Michigan.

• Brought a modern, energetic style to traditional gospel.

O’Neal Twins

Contemporary gospel duo appealing to younger audiences.

Barrett Sisters

Gospel trio known for heartfelt, anointed performances.

Lucie Campbell

• First to copyright a gospel song ("Something Within," 1919).

• Memphis schoolteacher and influential composer.

George L. White

• Fisk University music instructor who formed the Jubilee Singers.

• Took spirituals to national and international stages.

Ella Sheppard

• Original Jubilee Singer and pianist.

• Helped arrange and preserve slave spirituals.

Denmark Vesey & Nat Turner

• Led slave revolts, leading to church shutdowns.

• Vesey’s Charleston church was destroyed after his planned uprising (1822)

Richard Allen & Absalom Jones

• Founded the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church after being forced out of a white church.

• Published the first AME hymnal, tailoring music for Black congregations.

• First name in definition was first black to get a license to preach

Jonathan Edwards & George Whitfield

• Key figures in the Great Awakening, emphasizing personal conversion.

Edwards preached "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God."

Daniel Coker

Helped incorporate the AME Church in 1816, legitimizing Black churches.

Isaac Watts

• "Father of English Hymns," wrote over 700 hymns.

• Published “hymns and spiritual songs”

Accused of compromising scripture for creativity ("whymns" criticism).

• published “hymns and spiritual songs”

Olaudah Equiano

First African to write a book in English, detailing slavery’s horrors.

Charles G. Finney

• Preached hellfire sermons during the Second Great Awakening.

• Focused on Arminianism (salvation as a choice).

Joseph Smith

Founded Mormonism during the Second Great Awakening.

William Francis Allen & Charles Pickard Ware

Compiled Slave Songs of the United States (1867), preserving spirituals.

African Methodist was started here

philadelphia

spiritual songs

songs came by improvisation, no music written down, came from spirit

First African Church

longest standing african/black building constructed

savannah, Georgia

cane ridge revival

20,000 people, catalysts for the spread out west, many denominations came to this one place

praise houses

community gathering places for worship and spiritual activities in African American culture.

Timothy Fleming

You better run, keep still god will fight your battles

John p kee

funkiest band, leader in gospel music, known for energetic performances and blending styles.

GMWA

Gospel Music Workshop of America

Timeline

West Africa → Slave Period → Isaac Watts → Thomas A dorsey → James Cleveland → Edwin Hawkins → Andrae Crouch → The winans

The winans

Aint no need to worry

Progression of instruments

Acapella → Guitar → Piano →Organ → Bass →Drums → Synthesizers

hymns

song that is inspired by religious text

The First African Church

is in Boston