Gospel Music of the 1960’s
Assigned Reading
: Pages 39-41 “Influence of the Spirituals” from
Black American Music
by Hilda Roach. Zerox copies are suggested.
Audio materials
: Albums previously recorded on cassettes: Mahalia Jackson,
Newport 1958
. and
By Your Favorite Artists
: Reverend James Cleveland and Shirley Caesar
Vocabulary Words
: spirituals, Reconstruction, pioneer, Emancipation Proclamation, choral, solo, symphony, piano, orchestra, paraphrase 1) definitions, phonetical pronunciation 2) Use in good sentences, 3) spell correctly
Procedure
: Try to begin lessons by assigning vocabulary words. Pronounce words with students. Pass out assigned reading to be done in class. Discuss article.
Outside reading:
Famous Negro Music Makers
by Langston Hughes, pages 141-146. Biography of Mahalia Jackson, Gospel Singer.
Ask class to discuss Mahalia’s public and personal life, as related to her decision to sing the gospel. Play the tapes for the class. Compare Jackson’s style to that of J. Cleveland and S. Caesar. Put titles of selections just played on chalk board. Ask students to give reasons as to the selection and significance of the titles by the artists.
Suggested activit
y: Have students write a one to two page essay on why they think gospel songs and spirituals have influenced the black community from slavery to the present.