Morehouse and Spelman Glee Club on September 11, 2024 Concert Review
Set at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, the Spelman Glee Club and Morehouse Glee Club exemplified true excellence and an evident connection to their African American musician predecessors through their music and performance on September 11, 2024. Notably, “[Morehouse and Spelman Glee Clubs’] performances have helped to show the soul of our nation,” one of the moderators said at Wednesday’s event. Their voices have also “reminded us that music is not just a universal language but a universal hand of fellowship,” said another moderator.
Both groups can be used as prime examples of Black Music Scholarship through their vivid storytelling and strategic display of movements to match the tone of their songs. For example, Spelman’s signature piece, “Children Go Where I Send Thee,” was the second song performed by the group. It is an African American Spiritual, with a rap crafted by Ayana Davis and arranged by Kevin Johnson. The performance is immersive as the singers follow specific lyrics with dance moves, such as the line “seven for seven that wait up to Heaven” with the singers leaning forward as if they are telling the audience a story and looking to the sky. Furthermore, the song is accompanied by the Djembe, a famous West African instrument, known for its powerful base, the piano, electric piano, electric guitar, and a fast pace rhythm. The singers notably follow the beat with their swaying, constant clapping, and positive energy in the lyrics.
In Morehouse’s Glee Club, in their song, “Ain’t Got Weary Yet,” a similar upbeat cadence is modeled as the lead singer evokes clear emotion in his voice to erect the song’s message. An African American Spiritual, “Ain’t Got Weary Yet,” was arranged in 2023 by Courtney Carey, a Morehouse Alumni, and holds the message of patience for a better future despite current trials and tribulations. The song starts with a solo singer who elongates the lyrics and adds a clear emotional undertone to his voice. The other singers lower their voices, which makes the song sultry and helps the audience feel a connection to the resilience Carey wanted to impress in his arrangement. The disposition of the singers is convincing of the song’s message as they convey a strong presence and evident understanding of the deeper meaning of the lyrics. The lead singer further demonstrates this with his facial expressions and body language.
Moreover, the Morehouse ensemble sang the anthem “Great and Glorious,” by Franz Joseph Hayden and arranged by Joseph S. Daltry. Polyrhythm between the altos and tenors can be found when they sing the first set of “glorious” (time stamp 50:13). Accompanied by an organ player, there is a lot of layering of voices, which makes the song more interesting and harmonious, with every singer’s voice being evident.
The oldest collegiate choir of African American women in the nation, the Spelman College Glee Club began their portion of the concert with an upbeat remix of the African American Spiritual “Wade in the Water.” As said by a moderator earlier in the program, “[the Spelman Glee Club] music overflows with a soulful energy that lifts audiences out of their seats,” which was clear in this song as the new version of the song followed a contemporary style and was accompanied by Dr. Johnson on the piano.
The last song to be performed by the group was the Spelman classic, “A Choice to Change the World.” This song was sung following the guidelines of an R&B soundtrack with hints of a musical-like undertone. Moreover, the drum, electric piano, piano, and electric guitar were used too. To emphasize the song’s message, each verse was sung by a different person, showing that every Spelmanite is different and subsequently, her journey will be too.
Overall, these two glee clubs did an excellent job showcasing the range of voices and emotions of each song they performed, leaving the audience and online viewers wanting more and motivating them to dive deeper into the culture of these arrangements.
