Date of Award
Spring 4-2023
Degree Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Degree Name
Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)
School
Music
Committee Chair
Dr. Kimberley Davis
Committee Chair School
Music
Committee Member 2
Dr. Joseph Brumbeloe
Committee Member 2 School
Music
Committee Member 3
Dr. Joseph Jones
Committee Member 3 School
Music
Committee Member 4
Dr. J. Taylor Hightower
Committee Member 4 School
Music
Committee Member 5
Dr. Jonathan Yarrington
Abstract
The African American Spiritual is a long-standing genre of music in the classical arena that drew influence from slave songs or enslaved Africans in America. The Spiritual has always required specific knowledge and understanding of the Black culture and struggle since its conception. As an art form, its genesis came around the end of the 18th century with the abolishment of slavery. The Spiritual (folk melodies) became a popular addition to the concert hall repertoire and were first brought to the forefront by the famed Fisk Jubilee Singers between 1853 and 1943. The Concert Spiritual became more popular in the 20th century as composers like Harry T. Burleigh, Hall Johnson, and Roland Hayes began composing and arranging Spirituals for the classical singer. In addition to these composers, the classical singers who helped bring this notoriety to the art form were Marian Anderson, Paul Robeson, and the composers who sang their arrangements. The accompaniments became more lavish and intricate melodically, harmonically, and texturally—while remaining true to the original intent and soulfulness of the traditional folk melodies.
This doctoral project informs current and future performers of a new Spiritual collection, Spiritual Sketches, by composer and arranger Damien Sneed and vocalist Lawrence Brownlee. This project will provide a discussion of Mr. Sneed’s stylistic synthesis and treatment of text; it will also discuss the artistic, intellectual, and performance practices that should be considered to provide a successful performance of Spiritual Sketches. Mr. Sneed’s setting of Spirituals provides freedom of invention for the vocalist and pianist.
Recommended Citation
Cox, Katrina, "A Look into Spiritual Sketches: A Performance to Damien Sneed’s Arrangements of Selected Spirituals" (2023). Doctoral Projects. 224.
https://aquila.usm.edu/dnp_capstone/224
Included in
Ethnomusicology Commons, Musicology Commons, Music Pedagogy Commons, Music Performance Commons