Gabriel, William Howard Doane, and Fanny Crosby. The original "gospel" songs were written and composed by authors such as George F. The revival movement employed popular singers and song leaders, the most famous of them being Ira D.
Prior to the meeting of Moody and Sankey in 1870, there was an American rural/frontier history of revival and camp meeting songs, but the gospel hymn was of a different character, and it served the needs of mass revivals in the great cities. Sankey, as well as the Holiness- Pentecostal movement. It was used to describe a new style of church music, songs that were easy to grasp and more easily singable than the traditional church hymns, which came out of the mass revival movement starting with Dwight L. The first published use of the term "Gospel song" probably appeared in 1874 when Philip Bliss released a songbook entitled Gospel Songs. Although not directly connected with African-American gospel music, they were adopted by African-Americans as well as white Americans, and Newton's connection with the abolition movement provided cross-fertilization. Starting out as lyrics only, it took decades for standardized tunes to be added to them.
Perhaps the most famous gospel-based hymns were composed in the 1760s and 1770s by English writers John Newton (" Amazing Grace") and Augustus Toplady ("Rock of Ages"), members of the Anglican Church. Moreover, the genre arose during a time when literacy was not a guarantee, utilizing a great deal of repetition (which, unlike more traditional hymns, allowed those who could not read the opportunity to participate). Another theory notes foundations in the works of Dr. 1.4 Contemporary Black gospel and gospel rap (1970s–present)Īccording to Yale University music professor Willie Ruff, the singing of psalms in Scottish Gaelic by Presbyterians of the Scottish Hebrides evolved from " lining out"-where one person sang a solo and others followed-into the call and response of gospel music of the American South.1.2 Holiness-Pentecostal era (19th century).British black gospel refers to Gospel music of the African diaspora produced in the UK. Celtic gospel music infuses gospel music with a Celtic flair, and is quite popular in countries such as Ireland. Bluegrass gospel music is rooted in American mountain music. It peaked in popularity in the mid-1990s. Christian country music, sometimes referred to as country gospel music, is a subgenre of gospel music with a country flair. Progressive Southern gospel has grown out of Southern gospel over the past couple of decades. Southern used all-male, tenor-lead-baritone-bass quartets. It has also come to be used in churches of various other cultural traditions (especially within Pentecostalism) and, via the gospel choir phenomenon spearheaded by Thomas Dorsey, has become a form of musical devotion worldwide.
The styles emerged out of the African-American music and American folk music traditions and have evolved in various ways over the years, continuing to form the basis of Black church worship even today. īlack and Southern gospel music are largely responsible for gospel's continued presence in contemporary Christian music, with soul music by far the best-known popular music variant. Following World War II, gospel music moved into major auditoriums, and gospel music concerts became quite elaborate. The advent of radio in the 1920s greatly increased the audience for gospel music. The original gospel songs were written and composed by authors such as George F. The first published use of the term "gospel song" probably appeared in 1874. Most of the churches relied on hand-clapping and foot-stomping as rhythmic accompaniment. Hymns and sacred songs were often repeated in a call and response fashion. Gospel music can be traced to the early 17th century. Gospel music is characterized by dominant vocals and strong use of harmony with Christian lyrics. Gospel music is composed and performed for many purposes, including aesthetic pleasure, religious or ceremonial purposes, and as an entertainment product for the marketplace. The creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of gospel music varies according to culture and social context. Gospel music is a traditional genre of Christian music, and a cornerstone of Christian media.