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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

Oh! no! You can't mean it? A Negro spiritual in the story? Well, believe it or not this is reality. So eyes down for the real thing in due course . . .

These songs originated in the plantations of the American South. Never composed, Negro Spirituals were spontaneous outbursts of intense religious fervour, invented chiefly in camp meetings, revivals and other religious events of their time. They are now generally considered as an important contribution to American Folk Songs. 

Based on rhythm (but also with a strong melodic line), these folk songs of the American Negro had an impressive effect on much of the music of America and the western world. Examples include: Swing Low, Sweet Chariot; Go Down Moses; and Deep River. 

Negro Spirituals became prominent in 1871 in concerts by the Fisk Jubilee Singers, and became even better known in the 20th Century through the singing of Paul Robson and Marian Anderson. As such, they influenced Jazz and the popular music scene which followed. More than that, however, they significantly influenced musicians and singers the world over. Dvorak was deeply touched by Negro Spirituals, and Tippett used some very effectively in his oratorio A Child of Our Time.

Here is a wonderful example of an early Negro Spiritual - Swing Low, Sweet Chariot - as popular with singers and audiences today as it was when first 'invented'. It has recently been adopted by Rugby Union clubs, and reached a new height of fame during the Rugby World Cup in Australia in November 2003. From several versions of the song, we have chosen Burleigh's arrangement¹ for solo voice and piano as the basis for our arrangement. It is a splendid piece of music isn't it? Please feel free to join the American plantation workers in their heartfelt song . . .

Words supplied to sing along to, if you feel the impetus.  Go on, give it a go . . .!!

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

Swing Low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home.
Swing Low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home.
Swing Low, sweet chariot,
Swing Low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home.
Coming for to carry me home.

I looked over Jordan, what did I see,
Coming for to carry me home?
A band of angels coming after me,
Coming for to carry me home.

Swing Low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home.
Swing Low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home.

Footnote 1    For further information see our MusicSmiles bibliography in the main site in due course. Return to Story.

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