GRMUS 688 — Church as Conservatory

2 credits
Spring
Fredara Hadley

Based on W.E.B. Du Bois’s notion of the church as the “social center” of African American life, this course positions the church as the conservatory of African American music. Students will examine the ways in which the church, for centuries, has been the main locale of acculturation, pedagogy, performance, and tradition in Black American music, from which diverse genres emerge and circulate into the global musical sphere.

We will survey hymns, spirituals, art songs, freedom songs, classical choral music, jazz, contemporary Christian music, and praise and worship music (i.e. music for liturgy) with special emphasis placed on the development and stylistic changes within the gospel music tradition. Course readings will provide in-depth historical and cultural context for musical analysis. Students will complete an ethnomusicological project applying knowledge gleaned alongside the rich tapestry of African American church music in New York City.