Free Printable Gospel Sheet Music

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Contents

Introduction
What is Gospel Music?
The Origins of Gospel Music
The Development of Gospel Music
The Characteristics of Gospel Music
The Popularity of Gospel Music
The Influence of Gospel Music
Free Printable Gospel Sheet Music

Find the best selection of free printable gospel sheet music available online. All of our gospel sheet music is available for immediate download and print.

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Introduction

Welcome to my site where you can find free printable gospel sheet music. I have been playing the piano for over 30 years and enjoy sharing my passion for music with others. I have been creating and sharing printable sheet music online for many years, and I hope you will find something here that you like.

Please feel free to browse through my selection of sheet music, and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I will be happy to help in any way I can.

What is Gospel Music?

Gospel music usually has a dominant vocal melody accompanied by background vocals and instruments. Common styles include gospel blues, southern gospel, and black gospel. Gospel music has been a part of the African American experience since its inception in the 18th century. It is sometimes referred to as Jubilee Songs because of its association with the Emancipation Proclamation which freed African slaves in 1865.

One of the earliest forms of gospel music was the Negro spirituals developed by enslaved Africans in the American colonies. These spirituals were based on songs sung by English and Welsh Christians and were often adapted to fit the musical style of the African community.

Gospel music has been a popular form of Christian worship since the 19th century. It is frequently performed at churches, concerts, and religious events. Gospel music has also been used commercially to sell products such as records, sheet music, books, movies, and clothing.

The Origins of Gospel Music

The origins of gospel music can be traced back to the early 17th century, with the arrival of African slaves in the American colonies. These slaves were brought over to work on plantations, and they brought with them their own musical traditions. One of these traditions was the handing down of spirituals, or religious songs, from generation to generation. These spirituals were often adapted to fit the needs of the slave community, and they became an important part of both worship and daily life.

The first formal record of gospel music was made in 1839, with the publication of The Spirituals of the Rev. James Magnett. This collection included both hymns and spirituals, and it is thought to be the first time that gospel music was written down and published.

Gospel music began to gain popularity in the late 19th century, with the rise of movements such as the Holiness movement and Pentecostalism. These movements placed a strong emphasis on emotional and experiential religion, and gospel music became an important part of their worship services. Gospel music also began to cross over into the mainstream in this period, thanks to artists such as Mahalia Jackson and Thomas Dorsey.

Today, gospel music is enjoyed by believers and non-believers alike, and it continues to evolve and change with each new generation.

The Development of Gospel Music

Gospel music is a genre of Christian music. The creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of gospel music varies according to culture and social context. Gospel music is composed and performed for many purposes, including aesthetic pleasure, religious or ceremonial purposes, and as an entertainment product for the marketplace. Gospel music usually has dominant vocals (often with strong use of harmony) with Christian lyrics. Gospel music can be traced to the early 17th century, with roots in the black oral tradition. Hymns and sacred songs were often repeated in a call and response fashion. Most of the churches relied on hand clapping and foot stomping as rhythmic accompaniment. Cheering also occurred in slave resistance during Spirituals like “Steal Away” to heaven or “Swing Low Sweet Chariot”.
The first published use of the term “gospel song” probably appeared in 1874 when Philip Bliss released a songbook entitled Gospel Songs. A collection of songs, it contained “New Matter”, including some titles by Bliss and others Treasury Department employees such as Fanny Crosby and George Root. As stated by Margaret Flinn in her foreword to Bliss’ more famous Song Stories for the Kindergarten (1877), these were some of the first secular “gospel” songs written for children:
Blessed Jesus hold my hand;
I want Thee for my Savior;
I am so sorry for my sins;
Teach me to love Thee more and more; etc.

The Characteristics of Gospel Music

There are certain elements that are found in gospel music that make it unique from other types of music. These characteristics include a strong focus on the vocals, lyrics that are based on the gospel message, and a heavy emphasis on the beat. Gospel music is also known for its ability to bring people together and create a sense of community.

The Popularity of Gospel Music

Gospel music is one of the most popular genres of music in the world, with fans spanning all age groups, religions, and cultures. It is also one of the most diverse genres, with sub-genres that include blues, jazz, R&B, soul, and even rap. The popularity of gospel music is due in part to its message of hope and inspiration, but also to its catchy melodies and toe-tapping rhythms.

One of the great things about gospel music is that it can be enjoyed by both believers and non-believers alike. Whether you are a fan of traditional hymns or contemporary praise and worship songs, there is a style of gospel music that will speak to you. And thanks to the internet, it has never been easier to find free printable gospel sheet music to bring your favorite songs to life.

There are a number of websites that offer free printable gospel sheet music, as well as other FREE resources such as lyrics, chord charts, and so on. All you need is a printer and some time to sit down and enjoy some good old-fashioned gospel singing!

The Influence of Gospel Music

Gospel music usually has a dominant vocalist, often supported by background vocalists and other instrumentalists. Gospel music can be traced to the early 17th century, with roots in the black oral tradition. Hymns and sacred songs were often repeated in a call and response fashion. Most of the churches relied on hand clapping and foot stomping as rhythmic accompaniment. Chung says this style was adapted from African American vernacular music[3] and was “at first relatively unsophisticated”.
As well, early gospel music incorporated western classical music influences French Huguenot Christians brought over with them to New Orleans[4] in the 18th century.[5] It is characterized by predominant use of harmony and that complex different musical ideas are combined in extended sections over which a soloist or groups improvise to produce prolonged “journeys” through key centers.[6] Subgenres include contemporary gospel (a fusion of contemporary Christian music and gospel music); urban contemporary gospel (also known as “black gospel”); Southern gospel (which is similar to country music);[4][7][8] jazz-influenced gospel; rock-influenced gospel; Latin influenced gospel also known as “jalico”.[4][9][10] Gospel music has been a popular form of entertainment for much of its history; it gained popularity in urban areas in particular from about the early 1940s ’til about 1960.[11][12]