Spiritual (music)

A spiritual is an African American song, usually with a Christian religious text. Originally monophonic and a cappella, these songs are antecedents of the blues. The terms Negro spiritual, Black spiritual, and African-American spiritual are all synonyms; in the 19th century the term jubilee was more common (at least among African-Americans; whites often called them slave songs). Some musicologists call them African-American folk songs.

External Links

• http://st-takla.org/Multimedia/_Multimedia-index.html Examples of Coptic Orthodox Music of Egypt at Saint Takla Haymanout the Ethiopian Church, Alexandria - Egypt
• http://www.negrospirituals.com/ Singers, songs, history, and composers
• http://www.tnstate.edu/library/digital/FISK.HTM Fisk Jubilee Singers
• "Coded Slave Songs," with an analysis of "Follow the Drinkin' Gourd"
• Video and Audio Excerpts relating to Marian Anderson
• Gospel radio stations