Protest and Praise

Here is a skillful tracing of two tracks in the evolution of musical genres that have evolved from black religion. Songs of protest developed from the spiritual through social-gospel hymnody to culminate in songs of the civil-rights movement and the blues. Born in rebellion, they envision the Kingdom of God.
Songs of praise, by contrast, express adoration. Beginning with the "ring-shout," Spencer follows the history of intoned declamation through the tongue song, Holiness-Pentecostal music, and the chanted sermon of the black preacher. Spencer's approach, termed theomusicology, unlocks the wealth of African-American sacred music with a theological key. The result is a fascinating account of a people's struggle with God in history.

About the author

Jon Michael Spencer, renamed Yahya Jongintaba, is an early-retired professor. After a twenty-three year teaching career, with over a dozen books to his credit, he expatriated to East Africa, where he presently spends most of his time between Tanzania and Ethiopia.

Product details

• Authors: Jon Michael Spencer
• Publisher: Augsburg Fortress Publishing
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.12.2019
• EAN: 9780800624040
• ISBN: 978-0-8006-2404-0
• No. of pages: 276
• Dimensions: 139 mm x 215 mm x 17 mm
• Weight: 363 g
• Subject: Humanities, art, music > Music > General, dictionaries