Gospel Music

Posts Tagged ‘gospel music’

This is Sharay Reed grooving "Joy to the World"- 4 years after the first one!

Gospel Music: Tracing Back Its Roots

Ever since some cognitive human beings
have set foot on Earth, music has
greatly taken part of their lives. The
folks belonging to the days of yore
created their own musical arrangements
by plucking strings and hitting things
like wood, hide, or stone. The sounds of
nature have also served as one pleasant
musical sound for them. They undoubtedly
took pleasure listening to the sound of
the waterfalls, the animals, and even
the weather-related reverberations.

Music has then taken a further course.
Throughout the passing of time, people
have invented creative means of creating
music. From the schools to the churches,
there is music. The music industry has
also created varied genres of music for
all occasions.

You will often see or hear people
preaching about the word of God. The
gospel of the Lord is being delivered
through the means of other people who
serve as His own instruments. Simply
listening to His words enlightens your
spirit, right? God has often reminded
His people to love one another as he
loves everyone. He places every creation
he has made under His care. Although
every person has been created in His
image and likeness, still no one leads a
perfect life. To put it in a much
simpler term, no one is as perfect as
God is.

One?s spirituality and faith can thus be
manifested by several means. Reading
the bible, following the ten
commandments of God, praying, singing
gospel music, and attending mass are
among the typical ways by which one?s
spirituality is nourished. They often
say that those who sing praise twice.
Thus, by singing the gospel music, you
are praising twice!

What is gospel music?

Gospel music is a religious music that
contains the word of God. Gospel music
is at all times used as one medium to
praise God Almighty. In varying tunes
and arrangements, gospel music can
always be heard during the celebration
of the mass, praise and worship
activities, and healing mass.

There is no limit as to the use of
gospel music. You can even make it as
your morning praise habit. You can
listen to it while driving your car. Or
you can let it resound in your house.
Some gospel music singers perform the
genre in nightclubs and secular
settings. These days, more and more
gospel music are hence becoming
danceable therefore making the
enlightening of the spirit more
effective.

The Roots of Gospel Music

The gospel music was first popularized
by the African-American churches way
back in the 1930s. Two styles of the
gospel music emerged in those days?that
of the black people and that of the
white southerners. Despite the two
separate styles, gospel music still
traces its roots from the Methodist
hymnal. There came a time when the
artists from the two separate categories
sang the gospel music of each other.

The onset of gospel music has marked a
phenomenon in America regardless of the
distinction between the while and black
churches. Indeed, gospel music has
reached Australia that gave birth to the
gospel choirs of Jonah and The Whalers
and The Elementals plus the beginning of
the Australian Gospel Music Festival.
Norway also gave rise to both the Oslo
Gospel Choir and the Ansgar Gospel
Choir.

The Influences of Gospel

The trendy pop music had greatly
influenced the gospel artists. In turn,
gospel music has also influenced the
rhythm and blues singers of the 1940s up
to the 1950s.

Gospel music has reached the peek of its
popularity. Until now, several other
gospel musical artists are gaining their
own fame for the genre and a lot other
patrons are getting drawn on them.

Gospel Music: Tracing Back Its Roots

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Great Women of R&B Soul Music

When you think of soul music, names such
as Luther Vandrose, Marvin Gaye, James
Brown, and the like come up. But, come
on, where would soul be without those
women singers? Some of the biggest hits
that brought R&B soul into the
mainstream limelight, and stirred the
biggest passions within the listeners,
were from women. All women could relate
to the troubled times of early soul
female artist and the artist reflected
these times from the Vietnam War to the
mere struggles of a women in the world.

The early blues singer paved the way for
all later female vocalists. Numerous
R&B female artists have made a strong
impact in the music industry and set the
stage for many more such as Aretha
Franklin and Tina Turner.

Aretha Franklin

What piece on the Great Women of Soul
Music would be complete without the
Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin? Aretha
Franklin (born March 25th, 1942) began
her R&B Soul path as a child singing
gospel music in her childhood church.
She was considered a child prodigy. The
influence of the gospel music she grew
up singing was undoubtedly a prime
influence on her later soul music
career.

Ms Franklin has 20 number one rhythm and
blues hits to her name. She is known as
one of the most honored by the Grammy
Awards, as well as being the recipient
of a Living Legends Award, and a
Lifetime Achievement Award. Aretha
Franklin also belted out her sultry
voice as recently as the inauguration of
the 44th President of the United States
of America-Barack Obama.

Tina Turner

Though she is known more recently as a
soloist, Anna Marie Bullock (Tina
Turner) is known yet another great soul
performer, along with her ex-husband Ike
Turner. While still in high school,
Bullock would go with her sister to area
nightclubs and through much prodding by
her sister, Bullock auditioned for Ike
Turner and became a part of Turner?s R&B
soul band as an occasional vocalist with
the Kings of Rhythm at his club. This
was the stepping-stone for Bullocks, at
the age of 18, career in R&B. Bullock
went on to marry Ike Turner and changed
her name to Tina Turner.

Her first opportunity in mainstream Soul
music came in 1960 when the singer
scheduled to sing "A Fool in Love",
"It's Gonna Work Out Fine", "I Idolize
You", and the groundbreaking "River
Deep, Mountain High" didn?t show for the
recording. Young Tina was chosen to
record it instead. However, her most
memorable hit was a cover of CCR?s
?Proud Mary.?

Some other fantastic female R&B soul
singers are Chaka Khan, Patti Labelle,
Whitney Houston, Anita Baker, Patti
Austin, Barbara Mason, Martha and The
Vandellas, Denise Williams, and so many
more. Many of these strong female
artists started from simpler and harder
lives yet through it all, they overcame
all obstacles, prevailing with grace,
and known now as some of the best female
rhythm and blues vocalist to date.

R&B Soul Music has many great female soul singers that will
remain an influential part of singers throughout history.

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Youth For Christ Struggle Is Over Gospel
Music CD Review

The exceptionally talented Gospel group
Youth For Christ have released their CD
entitled Struggle Is Over. I am very
confident and happy to announce that I
believe Youth For Christ fans, and
Gospel fans alike will be pleased with
this one. With the release of Struggle
Is Over their artistic excellence is on
full display as they have once again
delivered a brilliant collection of
tracks that could very well be their
best work to date.

I wish it weren?t the case but, it?s not
everyday that I get a CD for review that
I can just pop in and comfortably listen
to from beginning to end. There is
usually a song or two that I just can?t
force myself to get through. Not at all
the case with Struggle Is Over. Every
track is enjoyable and was pretty easy
for me to listen to from start to
finish.

These days it?s a very rare CD on which
every single song is good or better than
the one before it. This CD is certainly
one of those rare CDs.

If you're even mildly into Gospel music
you'll enjoy this album. Overall
Struggle Is Over is an a great release.
I give it my double thumbs up. You will
not be disappointed with one single
track.

While the entire album is outstanding
the truly standout tunes are track 1 -
Jesus Put Himself In My Place, track 4 -
I Will Bless You, and track 7 - Come
Bless The Lord With Me.

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore
[...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 10
- Blessed Be The Name. What a nice
track!

Struggle Is Over Release Notes:

Youth For Christ originally released
Struggle Is Over on Jun 6, 2006 on the
Emtro Gospel label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Jesus Put Himself In My Place 2.
Struggle Is Over, The 3. Struggle Is
Over, The - (Reprise mix) 4. I Will
Bless You 5. Have Mercy 6. Have Mercy -
(Reprise mix) 7. Come Bless The Lord
With Me 8. Oh How I Love Jesus 9. Power
In The Blood 10. Blessed Be The Name 11.
Everybody 12. In Awe 13. Praise Him

Review of the Youth For Christ CD Struggle Is Over

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Lawrenceburg Tennessee

Lawrenceburg, Tennessee is a small,
quite little town in southern middle
Tennessee. It's located about 82 miles
southwest of Nashville, Tennessee but
its just 20 minutes away from Alabama
state line. With a population of around
14,000 people, Lawrenceburg isn't a huge
community but it's still a little more
than just a dot on the map.

There have been a number of well known
public figures who were born or lived in
Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. One of the best
known is probably the great frontiersman
David Crockett. For a time he called
Lawrenceburg his home. Many landmarks
and businesses now include Crockett in
their names. David Crockett State Park
and the David Crockett Monument located
on the city square are two well known
spots that pay homage to the legendary
outdoors man.

To the north of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee
sits The Old Order Amish community. The
Amish migrated to the area around 1944
and their community is still in
existence today. The horse-draw
carriages they use to get back and forth
are a common sight thought-out the city
on any given day. The Amish have also
established a small trade center north
of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee where they
offer for sale many different goods and
services. This is a favorite tourist
stop for many of our out of town
visitors.

There always seems to be a something
going on for most any age group. There
are a number of festivals and events
that occur throughout the year including
the James D. Vaughan Southern Gospel
Music Festival, the Heritage Festival,
several antique tractor and car shows,
and the biggest, most visited event of
the year, the Middle Tennessee District
Fair.

Often voted as the best fair in
Tennessee, it's held each year near the
end of September. Tens of thousands
descend on Lawrenceburg, Tennessee for a
full week of activities at the fair. If
there's one event you can't miss when
visiting Lawrenceburg it's the Middle
Tennessee District. It truly is a sight
to behold.

Lawrenceburg, Tennessee is a small, quite little town in
southern middle Tennessee. It's located about 82 miles
southwest of Nashville, Tennessee but its just 20 minutes
away from Alabama state line. With a population of around
14,000 people, Lawrenceburg isn't a huge community but it's
still a little more than just a dot on the map.

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Once You Have The Basic Chord Stucture,
The Gospel Keyboard Is A Snap!

Learning to play gospel keyboard is one
way you can bring the joy of this music
genre into your home. More and more
people are discovering the delight
gospel music brings to their family and
friends when they play. Memories of
evenings spent around the piano singing
your favorite songs can be brought back
to life when you learn how to play
gospel in your own home.

Playing the piano is enjoyed by people
from all walks of life, and all around
the world. The piano is thought to be
one of the most beautiful instruments in
the world. The piano creates such a
melodic and delightful sound that you
would be hard pressed to find a soul
that does not enjoy listening to gospel
or playing gospel on the piano.

Learning to play the gospel keyboard is
much like playing any other type of
music style on the piano. Once you have
the basics of chords and theory behind
you, you can adapt your playing style to
incorporate gospel. Taking lessons in
playing gospel music gives you
experience with the most common chords
that are used in this genre of music.

Knowing the scales you are playing, and
being able to recognize them by ear,
lets you master any song you want.
You?ll know what notes are likely to
come before or after a chord, and this
can help you when you?re playing in
public for an audience or tackling new
songs. Learning the gospel keyboard is
just a matter of finding the songs you
want to play and learning the chords
most common to the gospel sound.

Gospel is a traditional type of music
enjoyed in homes and churches
everywhere. Learning to play gospel on
your keyboard is sure to bring you great
satisfaction and hours of joy. And
taking a course in gospel music will
give you the knowledge you need to
execute the right chords and put the
right style into your playing.

If you have a piano in your home, you
may want to consider taking some piano
lessons or finding simple piano
tutorials on the internet. Learning to
play the piano is not very difficult?it
just takes some time and patience and
the right online courses that will help
you master the important concepts. Be
sure to give yourself plenty of time to
practice playing and you will be
surprising everyone, including yourself,
as you play beautiful gospel music.

Hear and Play, at
http://www.hearandplay.com, is a great
online source for gospel music lessons
and theory. They have designed lesson
plans that will take you all the way
from being a beginner piano player to an
experienced player who is proficient on
the gospel keyboard. Visit the website
for more information about learning
programs.

Learning to play gospel keyboard is one way you can bring
the joy of this music genre into your home. More and more
people are discovering the delight gospel music brings to
their family and friends when they play. Memories of
evenings spent around the piano singing your favorite songs
can be brought back to life when you learn how to play
gospel in your own home.

Playing the piano is enjoyed by people from all walks of
life, and all around the world. The piano is thought ...

Technorati Tags : gospel piano music playing

Enjoy Playing Gospel Music In Your Very
Own Home

For those who enjoy the rousing and
spiritual sound of gospel music,
learning to play gospel style songs can
be an exciting undertaking. Many enjoy
revisiting the days when the sound of
music flowing from the doors of the
church brought a smile to everyone
listening.

Learning to play gospel music on the
piano is a great way to share your
favorite hymns with all members of your
family. Or volunteer to play at church
or for a friend?s wedding. Gospel music
can be shared anywhere with anyone, and
it is universally recognized as a truly
inspiring genre of music.

If you are thinking about learning to
play music on the piano and are looking
for a piano for yourself, or perhaps
your child, you may be surprised to
learn that there are several different
types of pianos. Deciding the type of
piano you will purchase or rent is a
very important decision, especially if
children are going to be playing. If
your child has expressed an interest in
playing the piano, and in particular
gospel music, it is wise to find a good
instrument fit for them.

The piano is a great instrument for
children because it is relatively easy
to learn. Pianos are also great for any
age because you don?t have to get a new
instrument every time a child grows or
progresses. Playing the piano is a great
way to introduce your children into the
world of music and having a piano in
your home means many years of music are
ahead.

Gospel music has its own style of chord
patterns and arrangements that are most
common. In order to master playing
gospel, you have to know the right
chords and be able to pick up melodies
and notes by ear. Having the right
learning tools to accomplish this is the
biggest challenge. At Hear and Play, we
offer a variety of lessons and learning
tools that will get you started and well
on your way to playing music by ear in
no time. The rich sound of gospel is a
sound that is very soothing to many
people of all ages. Just think of the
number of times you have sat in a church
and listened to a soothing gospel song
that made you feel better. Now you can
duplicate this sound when you learn how
to play gospel music in your own home.

Lessons for gospel music will take you
from simple gospel songs to more complex
ones in no time at all. You will soon
find yourself playing for others.

For those who enjoy the rousing and spiritual sound of
gospel music, learning to play gospel style songs can be an
exciting undertaking. Many enjoy revisiting the days when
the sound of music flowing from the doors of the church
brought a smile to everyone listening.

Learning to play gospel music on the piano is a great way to
share your favorite hymns with all members of your family.
Or volunteer to play at church or for a friend?s wedding.
Gospel music can be shared anyw...

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Choosing the Right Music for a Memorial
Service

Find out the most commonly requested
songs for a memorial service and make
your planning easier. It is important
to choose songs that resonate with the
family or were favorites of the departed
loved one. Listed below are favorite
pieces from many types of music to aid
you in your planning.

For the memorial service, funeral or
"celebration of life" service:

Choose favorite hymns or other pieces
that will minister to the spirit and
emotions of those attending. This can
include favorite classical, instrumental
or vocal pieces.

Here are songs that are most commonly
requested for solos or for
congregational singing:

The most commonly requested hymns for
Christian services are: Amazing Grace,
How Great Thou Art, The Lord's Prayer,
In the Garden, Old Rugged Cross, and It
is Well with My Soul.

The most commonly requested gospel songs
for Christian services are: Just a
Closer Walk with Thee, Precious Lord
Take My Hand, In the Sweet By and By,
When We All Get to Heaven, Beyond the
Sunset, and I'll Fly Away.

The most commonly requested songs for
Catholic services are: On Eagle's Wings,
Shepherd Me O God (Psalm 23), Be Not
Afraid, You are Mine, Ave Maria, The
Lord's Prayer, and Amazing Grace.

The most commonly requested secular
songs are: Wind Beneath My Wings, My
Heart Will Go On (Theme from Titanic),
Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Time to Say
Goodbye, and I'll be Loving You Always.

The most commonly requested country
western songs are: One More Day (Diamond
Rio), Always (Dolly Parton), and
Angel(Sarah McLachlan).

For the visitation use non-obtrusive
classical and relaxing music so people
can easily converse without having to
speak loudly. This music can be
interspersed with favorite hymns or
other favorite songs. Usually
instrumental music will be used for the
visitation, but some vocal can work if
the family enjoys it, especially at
times when people are not conversing.

For the reception use light classical
music, waltzes, songs from musicals,
love songs and relaxing music. Using
music that is familiar to people helps
them feel relaxed. Again, the music
should be quiet enough so they can talk.

Finding the right musician(s):

1. Ask for a demo tape or ask to hear
them perform.

2. Pay attention to how their music
makes you feel. A poor voice or someone
lacking technical skill will often make
you feel tense or uneasy. The music of
an excellent musician will soothe you
and bring you a sense of peace.

If you are unable to afford live music,
consider harp or other acoustic music
that has a relaxed tempo.

With these tips you can use music for
the memorial day and in your memorial
service to bring peace and comfort to
everyone in attendance.

Never had to plan a memorial service before? Almost every
family has to deal with it at sometime. This article offers
the most commonly requested songs for memorials, funerals
and "celebration of life" services.

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Imus is Sunk - Hip Hop Sails Away
Unscathed

Among the fairest and most balanced
offerings on the Imus incident hails
from journalist Ellis Cose in Newsweek
for the week of April 23, 2007 in an
article entitled ?What Will We Learn.?
Another offering well worth the read is
?Imus? Safety Net Failed? penned by the
World Net Daily columnist Barbara
Simpson, April 16, 2007.

TV interviews are too numerous to cite
even though not much variation is
offered. It seems like a replay of the
same interview and it goes like this.
Imus had a right to say what he wants,
networks and corporate supporters have
the right to bounce him and why doesn?t
somebody call Rap and Hip Hop out on the
carpet.

Naturally when a race card pops up Jesse
Jackson and Al Sharpton are sure to pop
up as well. Jackson is seen marching
with a tiny placard about Rainbow
Coalition and Sharpton is filmed as the
magnanimous mediator of the Imus
apology, just what we might expect,
nothing new in this picture.

Not far behind these familiar scenes
another recurring but worn out and
highly questionable outcome is the
monotonous drone of the interviewers
trying to assuage Rappers with talk
about their connection to art. A lot of
sycophantic gushing can?t hide the fact
that untold millions of people believe
that calling Hip Hop ?art? is like
comparing Leonardo Da Vinci?s Mona Lisa
to Andy Warhol?s Campbell?s Soup can.

Pop cultures? fling can produce bling
but it takes something a little more
classic to add something significant to
a nation?s culture, something that will
endure through the ages.

Others have aptly pointed out something
already well known namely, that it is
the big green money machine that drives
Hip Hop. Millions of bucks will also be
lost by the networks and sponsors as a
result of giving Imus the boot. So that
question serves only to raise yet
another question. Why did the networks
and corporations suddenly go moral on
such a lopsided scale?

A few voices have been heard that dare
to call Hip Hop artists and sponsors to
respond. Among them has been African
American poet Maya Anjelou. In her
customary dignified and refined manner
Maya gracefully lambasted the rappers in
an interview on CNN. Are there any other
voices out there like this one? We are
waiting.

Raising a plethora of new questions
seems to be the main product of the
entire controversy. These questions are
useful only if we are willing to hunker
down and search for the answers and
beyond that we must demand that they be
answered.

Here is a list of questions that should
be asked of every citizen, network chief
and corporation in America. It may not
be a comprehensive list but it should do
for starters.

If profanity has become art, hasn?t art
become profaned?

Does America and especially African
Americans know the difference between a
mere activist and a real leader?

Are Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton
activists or leaders?

Would Jackson and Sharpton be willing to
march around network offices, media
outlets and corporate sponsors who gain
from Hip Hop?

Do Christians believe that the gospel
and gospel music, traditional or
contemporary, can really stand by
themselves to produce the desired
effect? If so why have some groups
borrowed from the Rap genre to present
their message?

Would the networks be willing to tone
down the crap in rap just to give it a
slap (no rap intended) in the next Hip
Hop presentation? Would they be willing
to cancel the next Hip Hop presentation?

Are African American women any less
insulted by the rappers than they have
been by Imus? Would they be willing to
let their voices and their ?Hell hath no
fury like a woman?s scorn? be heard on
the same?

Have parents listened to what is being
piped into their children?s brains and
what is bombarding their sight daily by
Hip Hopsters and are they willing to
pull the plug if necessary? Do you know
the definition of difficult?

Has anyone at all noticed that the Imus
incident clearly says that freedom of
speech does have responsibilities
connected to it?

Would rappers be willing to ponder the
question of why only rap music gets a
bad rap? Why haven?t other music genres
that African Americans have contributed
to or wholly created been spoken
against? Like Mississippi Delta Blues,
Black Gospel and Choir music, Rhythm and
Blues, Jazz, Dixieland, etc. etc. etc?
Why doesn?t anyone question that these
genres are actually art?

Would Rappers be willing to ponder this
great proverb? In the multitude of words
there wanteth not sin: but he that
refraineth his lips is wise. Proverbs
10:19

Would the rest of us be willing to
ponder these important words from the
Saviour of the world? ?But I say unto
you, That every idle word that men shall
speak, they shall give account thereof
in the day of judgment. For by thy words
thou shalt be justified, and by thy
words thou shalt be condemned.? Matthew
12:36-37

A cross section of articles and interviews about the Imus
snafu has produced pretty much only similar results.
Everyone is agreeing that he went too far and that if he
should be made to pay, then maybe Hip Hop should ante up as
well. Is maybe strong enough?

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