By Dorothea Garner
It's one of those songs that everybody seems to know or can identify when they hear it. It is one of the great American songs and is the state gospel song of Oklahoma. In fact, 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' may just be the ultimate Negro spiritual.
The genre known as spirituals are synonymous with African American culture. The slaves who were brought to the United States from Africa invented this type of song. Usually the lyrics have a theme linked to religion, specifically Christianity. 'Amazing Grace' is another famous spiritual, as is 'Kum Ba Yah', which is a different pronunciation of 'Come By Here'.
Because the slaves weren't allowed to speak their own languages or live the way they wanted to, they had to find other ways to express themselves. One of these ways was through song. Their songs showed distinctive African elements, like the vocal harmonies and the call-and-response style. Along with the religious themes in the lyrics, the songs often focus on the idea of freedom or a better life free of suffering. Some songs, like 'Gospel Train' and 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' are said to have been secret ways of telling slaves about the Underground Railroad, through which they could escape to states where slavery had already been abolished.
'Swing Low' was composed by a freedman called Uncle Wallace Willis. Uncle Wallace had worked for a prominent Choctaw man, Brett Willis, who gave him his English name. Not much is known about exactly where he lived or where he died, or even when he lived and died, except that it must have been in the region of Mississippi. He was married to a woman called Aunt Minerva and composed several spirituals in the years before the American Civil War.
The Fisk Jubilee Singers seem to have been the first to record the song. This was in 1909 and 'Swing Low' became increasingly popular. The composer Dvorak may even have used the song to inspire his 'New World Symphony'.
A wide variety of musicians have performed the song in different styles. Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn and Willie Nelson were some of the singers who put a country spin on it. Duke Ellington, Nina Simone and Louis Armstrong gave it a jazz flavor and BB King added the blues. Elvis went back to his gospel roots with his version while The Grate Dead added a late-Sixties rock touch. Diamanda Galas took the notes to new heights and Kathleen Battle has made them soar with her opera voice. Joan Baez provided a pivotal moment at Woodstock when she started singing her version.
The haunting melody has featured in many movies, starting with the work of the Marx brothers. Several songwriters, including Neil Young, Roger Waters, Tori Amos and Emmylou Harris have used excerpts and variations of the lyrics in their own compositions. The English national rugby team can barely play a match without their supporters breaking into this song at some stage.
With its theme of going to a better place and helping others get there, 'Swing Low' was also adopted by the Civil Rights movement. It has taken on a life of its own, becoming much more than a simple Negro spiritual (http://www.calvinearl.com) . In fact, it is now way up there along with other songs known the world over, like 'Happy Birthday'.
About the Author:
You can visit the website www.calvinearl.com for more helpful information about The History Of The Most Famous Negro Spiritual
It's one of those songs that everybody seems to know or can identify when they hear it. It is one of the great American songs and is the state gospel song of Oklahoma. In fact, 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' may just be the ultimate Negro spiritual.
The genre known as spirituals are synonymous with African American culture. The slaves who were brought to the United States from Africa invented this type of song. Usually the lyrics have a theme linked to religion, specifically Christianity. 'Amazing Grace' is another famous spiritual, as is 'Kum Ba Yah', which is a different pronunciation of 'Come By Here'.
Because the slaves weren't allowed to speak their own languages or live the way they wanted to, they had to find other ways to express themselves. One of these ways was through song. Their songs showed distinctive African elements, like the vocal harmonies and the call-and-response style. Along with the religious themes in the lyrics, the songs often focus on the idea of freedom or a better life free of suffering. Some songs, like 'Gospel Train' and 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' are said to have been secret ways of telling slaves about the Underground Railroad, through which they could escape to states where slavery had already been abolished.
'Swing Low' was composed by a freedman called Uncle Wallace Willis. Uncle Wallace had worked for a prominent Choctaw man, Brett Willis, who gave him his English name. Not much is known about exactly where he lived or where he died, or even when he lived and died, except that it must have been in the region of Mississippi. He was married to a woman called Aunt Minerva and composed several spirituals in the years before the American Civil War.
The Fisk Jubilee Singers seem to have been the first to record the song. This was in 1909 and 'Swing Low' became increasingly popular. The composer Dvorak may even have used the song to inspire his 'New World Symphony'.
A wide variety of musicians have performed the song in different styles. Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn and Willie Nelson were some of the singers who put a country spin on it. Duke Ellington, Nina Simone and Louis Armstrong gave it a jazz flavor and BB King added the blues. Elvis went back to his gospel roots with his version while The Grate Dead added a late-Sixties rock touch. Diamanda Galas took the notes to new heights and Kathleen Battle has made them soar with her opera voice. Joan Baez provided a pivotal moment at Woodstock when she started singing her version.
The haunting melody has featured in many movies, starting with the work of the Marx brothers. Several songwriters, including Neil Young, Roger Waters, Tori Amos and Emmylou Harris have used excerpts and variations of the lyrics in their own compositions. The English national rugby team can barely play a match without their supporters breaking into this song at some stage.
With its theme of going to a better place and helping others get there, 'Swing Low' was also adopted by the Civil Rights movement. It has taken on a life of its own, becoming much more than a simple Negro spiritual (http://www.calvinearl.com) . In fact, it is now way up there along with other songs known the world over, like 'Happy Birthday'.
About the Author:
You can visit the website www.calvinearl.com for more helpful information about The History Of The Most Famous Negro Spiritual