The African American Heritage Hymnal

[Casioman]

Hi All

The African American Heritage Hymnal is probably the most important addition to the protestant Hymnody within the past century, so says the introductory notes for this Hymnal. I agree, it  is a wonderful collection of hymns & it has all my favourites hymns in it. What a great collection of songs,

What makes this hymnbook special are the songs specific to the African-American tradition,  there are some great hymns & It would be good to have musical representation or reference of the hymns/songs in one thread i.e.midis, chordings, videos. ect. If anyone  has done anything from the hymnal please post it here

It should be compulsory for everyone on LGM to do at least one song from this great book in my opinion.  I know that many on this site are fans of the book & I would be very happy for some postings from anyone to this thread including from big guns like Diverse379, Sam Tolbert, Tblock Ddw4e ect.

To get the ball rolling here is my rather simplified & slightly reharmonised version of (105) Bless the Lord O my soul, from the African American Heritage Hymnal. please contribute if you can.

Be Blessed

Casioman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfjVn3DYtpE

[csedwards2]

Nice. Good voice too.

Im wondering how you would play with a pedal.

[Fenix]

Well i don't sight read too well which is one of the biggest hindrances to me getting the hymnal. I would in a heartbeat if it was simple enough.

I may just get it though.

[pressingon3]

Casioman,

Good job singing and playing. I definitely need help with hymnals. Keep um coming.

God Bless!

[Casioman]

Well I don't sight read too well which is one of the biggest hindrances to me getting the hymnal. I would in a heartbeat if it was simple enough.
I may just get it though.

There lies the problem with this hymnal in my opinion,  Black gospel is a musical style that is primarily played by ear, most players of gospel in the days when most of this material was written did not have formal musical training, but used the number system & many trademark signature licks in church settings. a lot of this music has been the soundtrack to historical events such as slavery (Go down Moses) & civil rights (We shall overcome). The Authors of the hymnal should have  at least put chord symbols in the hymnal so musicians who "play by ear" could have easy access to the material contained within. Most musicians who read music will not play the material "as written" but modify the songs to whatever style the musician is familiar.  The production of this hymnal was the result of many meetings of pastors, musicians, biblical scholars & theologians according to the sleeve notes. I am surprised that this important fact has been overlooked.


Be Blessed

Casioman

[Fenix]

I don't mind there being no chord symbols. i can cope with that. The biggest problem is that i am not a fast sight reader at all and it will take me a while to get a song from the sheet music, depending on the complexity.

[under13]

The Authors of the hymnal should have  at least put chord symbols in the hymnal so musicians who "play by ear" could have easy access to the material contained within.

I totaly disagree. Musicians should learn how to read music. Its not that hard.

[under13]

I don't mind there being no chord symbols. i can cope with that. The biggest problem is that i am not a fast sight reader at all and it will take me a while to get a song from the sheet music, depending on the complexity.

Hymns arent going to be that hard. what you can do is memorize the Right hand and read the left hand until you totaly memorize it.

[sjonathan02]

I totaly disagree. Musicians should learn how to read music. Its not that hard.

There's nothing wrong with doing both.

[Fenix]

Hymns arent going to be that hard. what you can do is memorize the Right hand and read the left hand until you totaly memorize it.

My piano teacher once told me that. She advised memorizing the RH, then memorize the LH and put it together.

[under13]

My piano teacher once told me that. She advised memorizing the RH, then memorize the LH and put it together.

It's way to hard to read all 4 notes at the same time

[jgause2]

My piano teacher once told me that. She advised memorizing the RH, then memorize the LH and put it together.

that's how i learn how to read the hymnal.  I'm using this hymnal to increase my sightreading ability.  It's helped.

It's way to hard to read all 4 notes at the same time

yes, it's hard, but not impossible.  It just takes tons of practice, and recognizing the intervals and the distance between each interval, and chord, etc,.  With practice, it can be done.

[Casioman]

There's nothing wrong with doing both.

I agree, you are all probably aware that Hymn books were written primarily for singers (it comes in 4 parts,SATB) and it was not always designed with piano players in mind.

If you play most hymns as they are written, there is no way that they are going to sound great. Lots of people love traditional hymns but they do not always love the traditional harmonies.

Knowing how to play hymns that really sound alive & contemporary is where the "play by ear" skills are needed.

Take for example "What a friend we have in Jesus" this midi is played "as written"
 
http://www.learngospelmusic.com/media/download.php?pid=3052

& is a world apart from this version (played very skilfully by the very talented Ddw4e)
So both skills are needed & are equally as important imho.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3-6IWx8Lu0

Be Blessed

Casioman

[under13]

I agree, you are all probably aware that Hymn books were written primarily for singers (it comes in 4 parts,SATB) and it was not always designed with piano players in mind.

If you play most hymns as they are written, there is no way that they are going to sound great. Lots of people love traditional hymns but they do not always love the traditional harmonies.

Knowing how to play hymns that really sound alive & contemporary is where the "play by ear" skills are needed.

Take for example "What a friend we have in Jesus" this midi is played "as written"
 
http://www.learngospelmusic.com/media/download.php?pid=3052

& is a world apart from this version (played very skilfully by the very talented Ddw4e)
So both skills are needed & are equally as important imho.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3-6IWx8Lu0



Be Blessed

Casioman

I disagree.

The SATB in Hymnals are used by most organist who read. There is really nothing else out there for them. Maybe those of us  in the pentecostal church dont use it, but there is more to church music than that. (You go to an A.M.E church for example, And they expect you to read)

Yeah its good to make the song contempory and add "phat" chords and "sick" runs, but every song or situation does not call for that. Take "Holy Holy Holy" for example. Look at the bass line. It is an integral part of that song. Yeah you could probaly chord it out, but you will lose all those important bass and harmony notes. It just wont sound right w/o it. And unless you have a good ear or you can read music, you wont do the song justice.

And do chords give you the proper rythm of the song? how do you know how long to hold each note? How do you know when to repeat certain parts etc. if you cant read music?

If you are a beginer, then ok. But if you are a paid church musician  then you gotta step your game up and not rely on getting the chords to hymns when EASY sheat music is readily available.

Seriously, We got church musicians getting paid major money, but they cant name not one note on the staff. If you would take a little time to learn what the notes are, you could chord the songs yourself.


Sorry for ranting, and this rant isnt directed towards anyone in paticular.

[Casioman]

Here is another Gem from the African American Heritage Hymnal, "Soon & very Soon" (page 193)

Be Blessed
Casioman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ3q5XnPstY

[Fenix]

I don't currently use the AA hymnal, i use one called the Christian Life hymnal and it has all the current hymns. I love using the hymnal cuz i am finding new ways of harmonizing i never knew before.

Hurray for sight-reading!!

[berbie]

It may be true that you can get any hymnal in the same format, but I really like the keyboard version of the African American Heritage Hymnal.  Two large spiraled volumes that are very easy to see and that lie flat on the music stand.  They cost about $50.00 total give or take a few.  Even if you don't play the songs as they are written, you can get the basics of so many songs from this hymnal.  Then play them as you like.  To me, they were worth every penny spent. The size of the print allows you to easily read lyrics while you are playing.  You don't have to worry about proping the pages open as they lie flat.  The written music often includes licks that you can use.  If they were lost, I would immediately order another set.

berbie

[Casioman]

I don't currently use the AA hymnal, i use one called the Christian Life hymnal

I also own many hymnals (Redemption,Church, Worship) but somehow the songs in this hymnal seem to have a certain power. I can't explain it properly but when you really absorb traditional gospel music something happens on the inside. which seems to say "no matter what the crisis is, there's light at the end of the tunnel', certain songs in this hymnal just seem to have a connection deep in my psyche, maybe its because many of the songs were born of the struggle (Slavery, Jim Crow, Civil Rights). Lest we forget our journey

Casioman

Galatians 5:1
1: It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

1 John 5:4
4: For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
5: Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

[ddw4e]

I want to read so bad! I need to be tought in dummy terms on how to read. LOL

[berbie]

Alac and alas, I just don't think there is a silver bullet.  You must practice, practice, practice.  Knowing intervals helps, knowing chords really well helps.  I have looked hard, and I could not find that silver bullet that would kill the dumb readers villian.  And into the bargain, I have to read and play a song a thousand times to memorize it. 

berbie