The National Black Drama Anthology: Eleven Plays from America's Leading African-American Theaters (Applause Books) Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is a beautiful represention of today's Black theater.We so often "forget" that there are talented Black playwrights, who are rarely given notice.The book shows the broad spectrum of life and viewsin one culture.Today I notice and give accolades to those with the Godgiven talent of dramatic creativity.

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"Though New York remains the de facto capital of American theater, much of the most daring and interesting work today is done by regional theaters. This is doubly true of plays by African American authors, who, despite a few notable exceptions (August Wilson, George C. Wolfe), suffer under a commercial apartheid that keeps black plays off Broadway. Of necessity, African American theater artists have to create their own venues from the ground up. This wide-ranging anthology edited by the founder of the New Federal Theater celebrates the work of that companyÕs black-owned, black-run peers by presenting work by 11 dramatists. Among the most interesting are Jeff StetsonÕs moving The Meeting, which imagines a meeting between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr., and Shauneille PerryÕs fascinating updating of In Dahomey, the 1903 musical hit that was the first Õall-Black showÕ on Broadway." - Jack Helbig, Booklist

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American Negro Songs: 230 Folk Songs and Spirituals, Religious and Secular Review

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(More customer reviews)Memories of songs I've heard, yet did not know the words.History is a wonderful thing. Enjoyed the "foot stomping" songs.As a city youngster visiting the south in the early 40's, in the old church camp meetings, some of these songs were sang.They bring back memories of good times in my youth.

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Tracing the African influences of songs sung and played by black Americans at work, in church, and as entertainment, this historical and critical survey discusses the lyric significance of such songs as "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," "Steal Away to Jesus," "John Henry," and others. In addition, the words and music for 230 songs appear, including "Study War No More," "Keep Me from Sinking Down," "You May Bury Me in the East," "Rock of Ages," "Go Tell It on the Mountain," and many more. Bibliography. Index of Song Titles.

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Slave Songs of the United States: The Classic 1867 Anthology Review

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(More customer reviews)There are 136 songs in this book, most of which are no longer sung. They are simply amazing, musically and theologically. An example: "Come and Go With Me", collected in Augusta, GA, presents a major scale with a flat 6th and 7th, and the tune ends on the 4th. Unfortunately, the collectors, as went on for generations as standard procedure, did not acknowledge the names of any of their sources. The original "Michael Row the Boat Ashore" is in here; it is a rowing song from the sea islands, addressed to the archangel Michael as a prayer for safe passage; these lyrics are more striking than the familiar ones. Here are the complete lyrics to "Come and Go With Me", which is singular both in its scale and its notion that heaven is in the present, to be accepted rather than earned:

Ole Satan is a busy ole man
He roll stones in my way
Master Jesus is my bosom friend
He roll 'em out my way

Oh, come and go with me
Oh, come and go with me
Oh, come and go with me
A-walking in the heaven I roam

I did not come here myself my Lord
It was my Lord who brought me here
And I really do believe I'm a child of God
A-walking in the heaven I roam

Oh, come and go with me
Oh, come and go with me
Oh, come and go with me
A-walking in the heaven I roam

It was reported that the freed slaves did not want to remember their old songs. And we all have reasons for forgetting a painful past. But look at these songs; they are the heart and soul's truth of life. It is not too late to learn from these people. Put this music in your heart.

Water spring that never dry, Hallelu, Hallelu
The more we dig, the more it spring, Hallelujah!

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This 1867 landmark book represents the first systematic effort to collect and preserve the songs sung by the plantation slaves of the Old South. Most of the 130 songs, arranged by geographic area, were recorded directly from the singers themselves. Includes the melody line and all known verses to each song, directions for singing, and a commentary on each.

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