Work

Programme Note

This short setting of a traditional Afro-American spiritual text was written for Opus at Epsom Girls’ Grammar School (Auckland) in 2003. It makes use of the ‘call and response’ technique of early spirituals, and uses typical harmonic and melodic ideas. The meaning of these texts was most often covert. Therefore, only Christian slaves understood them, and even when ordinary words were used, they reflected personal relationship between the slave singer and God.

Text Note:

Afro-American Spiritual

Difficulty:

Intermediate

Influences:

• Religious