Analyze
Compare and Contrast Spirituals
Over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries, spirituals would spread across the nation and the world. Up to the present day, African Americans (and people from other cultures) continue to perform spirituals in new contexts and new styles. Three examples include folk spirituals, concert spirituals, and gospel-style spirituals. Each style has unique characteristics. However, all three spiritual styles share a similar feature - the lyrics are frequently repeated during the song.
Now that you understand how the spiritual styles are similar, what characteristics make them different? Use the following analysis questions to complete the activities below.
- Is there a steady beat? Is it fast or slow?
- What instruments do you hear?
- Beyond singing, what other sounds/movements are the performers creating?
- What texture do you hear (i.e. Are the singers performing in precise unison or harmony?)?
- Are the melody or lyrics complicated? Do they repeat often?
- What are the lyrics communicating?
In this activity, you will listen to different styles of spirituals. What differences do you hear as you listen to each recording? Refer back to the questions to help with your analysis. Which style appeals to you the most?
Check Your Understanding
Test your understanding of the different styles of spirituals. Read each description and drag the description to the correct spiritual style.
