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The Maryland Spirituals Initiative sings "Woke Up This Morning."

What’s in a Note?: Compare and Contrast Activity

Grades 3-5

Gospel music, like many popular and communal art forms, does not easily translate to notation. There are a number of culturally informed performative and musical practices that are not captured on sheet music. Visit the Water's Edge Museum YouTube channel to play a performance of "Woke Up This Morning" by the Maryland Spirituals Initiative. Compare the performance to the lyrics below.

Questions to Consider:

  • How closely does the performance (the notes performed, the words sung, etc.) align with the sheet music?
  • What aspects of this performance make it easy for others to participate?
  • What are the lyrics trying to communicate?


 

This learning resource is a production of Maryland Public Television/Thinkport.