The Spiritual: America’s First Art Form

From the hills of Appalachia, to the small African-American churches of the Deep South, the American Spiritual is, today, America’s first home-grown musical art form. From the plaintive sounds of Amazing Grace and Come thou Fount of Every Blessing to the unbridled joy of Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit, the American Spiritual gets to the very essence of our national patrimony. This recital will explore this compelling genre in depth for its earliest beginnings, illuminating both familiar tunes and soon-to-be favorites. (less)