Singing in the African American Tradition – Volume 1 (Audio/Book) – Ysaye Barnwell

Anyone who loves to sing will be thrilled by the depth and range of the material taught on these four CDs! You’ll learn the melodies, harmonies, rhythms and counter-melodies to more than 20 great songs, and you’ll participate in the joyous expression of this wonderful vocal tradition by singing along with the CDs. These lessons can be used by individuals, groups of friends, choirs, church, camp and community groups of any background who want to enjoy this unique and uplifting singing tradition.

The CDs are structured so that you can learn the melody of a given song, then sing along with either the melody or a harmony part, eventually learning up to five or six distinct lines. The categories of songs taught on these CDs include African chants and calls, spirituals, early gospel songs, freedom songs of the Civil Rights Movement and contemporary South African songs of resistance and protest.

Songs: Elegba; Somagwaza; Wade In The Water/Motherless Child/ Want To Die Easy; Soon I Will Be Done With The Troubles Of The World; Steal Away; Balm In Gilead; Sheep, Sheep; The Lord Is My Shepherd; I’ll Fly Away; Swing Down Chariot; The Storm Is Passing Over; Sing Till The Power Of The Lord Comes Down; I Feel Like Goin’ On; Marching On To Freedom Lan’; Dog Dog; Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round; Babethandaza; Senzenina; Iza Kunyathel’i Africa; Woyaya; Freedom Tide Is Rising.