Negro Spirituals are religious music of African Americans during the enslavement period. During the Great Awakening (1740), a period of religious revival that swept the colonies in the mid 18th century. This was considered the prerequisite for Negro Spirituals.
Invisible Church: These were spaces designed for other purposes outside of worship. However, enslaved African Americans used these spaces to worship in secret. During this time, laws were created to prohibit gathering without White supervision. During theses private meetings, enslaved African Americans would create and sing Negro Spirituals. A lot of these spirituals utilized Double entendre. These are songs that have double meaning.
Ex: “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” – Refers to a heavenly carriage leading one to heaven AND the Underground Railroad leading one to freedom from enslavement.
Folk Spiritual vs. Negro Spiritual: Folk Spiritual is a product of the Antebellum South. Folk Spirituals are recorded to be the first indigenous a cappella music created by African Americans.
Negro Spiritual–> Folk Spiritua–> Ring Shout: Ring Shout is a form of Folk Spiritual which utilizeds leader-chorus antiphonal sininging, hand clapping, and other percussion. Ring Shout uses religious dance where participants move in a counterclockwise circle.
Negro Spirituals/Folk Spiritual Influence on HBCU Concert Choirs: Many HBCU concert choirs would sing arranged concert spirituals. These concerts became very popular amongst the African American communities and helped HBCUs raise funds to support the education of African Americans. HBCU concert choirs would travel and compete in competitions utilizing the historical Negro Spirituals/Folk Spiritual aranged songs.
