In Celebration of the Human Voice - The Essential Musical Instrument

Black Voices Choral Music

The influence of African-American vocal harmony music can not be understated and is very much a part of today's choral music tradition. From the original call and response slave songs came African-American spirituals and in more modern times gospel singing. We offer here songbooks and arrangements from Black artists which can be sung by all choruses and choirs.

Black Choral Composers African American artists who have composed or arranged choral and popular music for choruses.	Spirituals Arrangements Spirituals are the Southern sacred folk songs created and first sung by African Americans during slavery. Their original composers are unknown, and they have assumed a position of collective ownership by the whole community. They lend themselves easily to communal singing. Many are in a call-and-response structure, with back-and-forth exchanges between the leader and the group. A formal concert tradition has evolved from the original spirituals, with solo and choral arrangements based on original slave melodies, employed for performance by amateur and professional artists.
Freedom Songs for Civil Rights Choral arrangements of Negro Songs and The Civil Rights Movement. It has, and continues to be, a struggle for equal rights in this country but we know that freedom will always prevail. Sing these songs proudly!	African American Church Music Series An African American church service is always spirited and joyful. Join the fun.
Gospel Choral Series A new series of choral arrangements with a tinge of gospel. Or are they gospel songs with a tinge of choral? Either way your choir will be raising their voices to the Lord in this exciting series.	Exigence Choral Series A series commissioned by the professional choir Exigence under the direction of Eugene Rogers.
Africa African music is one of the first types that come to mind when you think of world music, especially in a cappella. Whether Gospel, Freedom songs or love songs, all of it is celebratory; African choirs and groups have an ability to convey joy and happiness that is unique and beautiful.	Albert McNeil Choral Series The McNeil Jubilee Singers ensemble was his creation, and he dedicated himself to upholding a choral tradition of excellence with the presentation of the concert spiritual and the ever-increasing contributions of African American Composers of Concert Music.
Stacey V. Gibbs Choral Series Highly acclaimed for his expertise in bringing new vitality and excitement to these beloved pieces, they have reached a wide range of choirs both internationally and in the U.S. where they have been featured in numerous festivals, celebrations, and competitions as well as at ACDA regional and National Conferences.	Moses Hogan Choral Series African-American spirituals comprise one of the world’s greatest and best loved bodies of music, appealing to performers and audiences across all boundaries and Moses Hogan was considered to be a master of genre. His arrangements and compositions can be considered the definitive expression of the musical form and this series is a collection of his finest works.
Rollo Dilworth Choral Series Rollo A. Dilworth is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities and Music Education at the North Park University School of Music in Chicago, Illinois. Dilworth established himself at a relatively young age as a leading arranger and composer of African American spirituals and his work has been performed by prestigious choirs for many years.	Choral Music of Ysaye Barnwell These best-selling arrangements from Sweet Honey in the Rock founder are great addition to your choirs repertoire. Recommended.