Music of the common tongue : survival and celebration in Afro-American music

Music of the common tongue : survival and celebration in Afro-American music /

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The author describes Music of the Common Tongue as a celebration of that form of music making which came into existence as a result of the enslavement of millions of Africans in the Americas. The author outlines the history of the encounter between the two great musical traditions of Africa and of E...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Small, Christopher, 1927-2011 (Author)
Format: Book
Language:English
Published: London : New York : John Calder ; Riverrun Press, 1987.
Subjects:
African Americans > Music > History and criticism.
Music > United States > History and criticism.
Music > Social aspects.
Table of Contents:
  • Introduction
  • Chapter 1. Africans, Europeans and the making of music
  • Chapter 2. On the ritual performance
  • Chapter 3. Rituals for survival I : an extatic delight in psalmody
  • Chapter 4. On cultures and their fusion
  • Chapter 5. Styles of encounter I : a need in white culture
  • Chapter 6. On value and values
  • Chapter 7. Rituals for survival II : the sheer power of song
  • Chapter 8. On literacy and nonliteracy
  • Chapter 9. Styles of encounter II : adjusting to white culture
  • Chapter 10. On improvisation
  • Chapter 11. Styles of encounter III : a lot of loving going on
  • Chapter 12. On the decline of music
  • Chapter 13. Styles and rituals : wanting to be part of that music
  • Chapter 14. On records and rewards
  • Chapter 15. Styles of encounter IV : a very satisfactory black-music circle
  • Chapter 16. Confronting the rational God
  • Index.

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