With their rich and complicated history, spirituals hold a special place in the American musical tradition. The folk songs of African American slaves have blended with European art song and American choral traditions and become a soul-stirring musical form irresistible to singers seeking to enrich and diversify their performance repertoire. Spirituals are not without controversy, though, and singers of non-Africa descent often struggle to know whether or not their performance of this music is appropriate or socially acceptable. So You Want to Sing Spirituals provides a comprehensive introduction to the history and performance of this rich and diverse musical style. Singer and historian Randye Jones explores spirituals' folk song roots and the music's transformation to choral and solo vocal concert repertoire. She profiles key composers and pioneers of the genre while also discussing the use of dialect and other controversial performance considerations. Contributed chapters address elements of collaborative piano, studio teaching, choral arrangement, and voice science and health as they apply to the performance of spirituals. The So You Want to Sing series is produced in partnership with the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Like all books in the series, So You Want to Sing Spirituals features online supplemental material on the NATS website. Please visit www.nats.org to access style-specific exercises, audio and video files, and additional resources.

About the Author
Randye Jones was first exposed to spirituals at her hometown church in Greensboro, North Carolina. After studying at Bennett College, Florida State University, and the University of Iowa, Jones became a touring performer and researcher dedicated to the history of spirituals. She has served as a panelist at events such as the Research, Education, Activism and Performance (REAP) National Conference on Spirituals, African American Art Song Alliance Conference, the National Association of Negro Musicians conference, and the Phenomenon of Singing International Symposium. For over 25 years, she has served on the library staffs at Florida State University, George Washington University, and Grinnell College.

Reviews
A wonderful resource for those interested in navigating the world of spirituals. Randye Jones melds methodical research with practical advice into a book that invites students and teachers of all ethnicities to explore and present spirituals with greater authenticity and confidence. -- Louise Toppin, University of Michigan, director, the George Shirley Vocal Competition for African American Spirituals, Art Song and Operatic Arias
Jones has created a broad-ranging study that enables singers to make informed decisions about a repertoire complicated by its connection to a painful history. It is time to embrace this beautiful repertoire and expand the performance canon. -- Kathleen A. Abromeit, Oberlin Conservatory Library and author of Spirituals: A Multidisciplinary Bibliography for Research and Performance
Finally, a comprehensive guide dedicated to the performance of the concert spiritual! In this much-needed work, Jones expertly imparts her knowledge of the vocal and technical demands that this American art form requires. -- Robert Sims, professor of voice, Northern Illinois University



Book Information
ISBN 9781538107348
Author Randye Jones
Format Paperback
Page Count 314
Imprint Rowman & Littlefield
Publisher Rowman & Littlefield
Weight(grams) 481g
Dimensions(mm) 230mm * 150mm * 23mm