The Music of Moses Hogan: Down in My Soul

Moses Hogan’s music is some of the most soulful and stirring you’ll ever hear. It’s no wonder that his work has been featured in movies, TV shows, and commercials. In this blog post, we’ll explore the life and work of this incredible artist.

Introduction

Moses Hogan (1945-2003) was an American pianist, composer, and arranger who specialized in African-American spirituals. His arrangements were performed by such noted vocalists as Jessye Norman, Kathleen Battle, Roberta Flack, and Dorothy Maynor. Hogan’s choral arrangements were performed by ensembles including the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the United States Navy Band Sea Chanters, the University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club, and the Yale Glee Club.

Hogan became interested in music at an early age and began playing piano when he was six years old. He went on to study at Southern University and Xavier University. In 1978, Hogan founded the Moses Hogan Chorale, a community choir based in New Orleans. The Moses Hogan Chorale toured internationally and released several recordings of Hogan’s arrangements.

In 2003, Hogan was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President George W. Bush.

Early Life and Education

Moses Hogan was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 15, 1957, the youngest of six children. Though his father was a Baptist minister, Hogan grew up in a family deeply steeped in the rich tradition of New Orleans’ African American gospel music. He began playing piano at the age of five, and by his teenage years he was leading the choir at his father’s church. Hogan went on to study music at Southern University and Xavier University. In 1980, he founded the Moses Hogan Chorale, a group dedicated to preserving and performing the spirituals and other works of the African American choral tradition.

Over the course of his career, Hogan arranged more than one hundred spirituals, hymns, and gospel songs for choir. His arrangements were characterized by their inventiveharmonies, rhythmic vitality, and soaring melodies. Hogan’s music was performed by some of the world’s most renowned vocal ensembles, including the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Choir. He collaborated with such artists as Jessye Norman, Andre Watts, Kathleen Battle, James Galway, and Wynton Marsalis. In 2001, Hogan was awarded the National Endowment for the Arts’ National Heritage Fellowship—the United States government’s highest honor for traditional artists. He died in 2002 at the age of 45.

Hogan’s First Gigs

Moses Hogan’s first gigs were in the French Quarter, playing for tips. He quickly learned that he could make more money if he played the music that the tourists wanted to hear – which was mostly jazz standards. So Hogan began to arrange well-known jazz tunes for piano and voice, adding his own unique touches.

The Moses Hogan Chorale

The Moses Hogan Chorale was founded in 1986 by conductor, composer, and arranger Moses Hogan. The chorale is dedicated to performing the music of African American composers, from the spirituals of the slave plantations to the works of contemporary artists.

The chorale has been featured on National Public Radio, PBS, and BBC Radio. They have performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Kennedy Center. In addition to their concert performances, the chorale has released several recordings of Hogan’s arrangements of spirituals and gospel songs.

The Music of Moses Hogan: Down in My Soul is a collection of some of Hogan’s best-known arrangements. The album features performances by the Moses Hogan Chorale, the Boston Camerata, and soprano Clamma Dale. The music on this album is sure to lift your spirits and fill your soul with joy.

Hogan’s Compositions

Moses Hogan’s compositions are some of the most performed works in the choral repertoire, particularly in the realm of gospel and spiritual music. Hogan’s settings of traditional spirituals are known for their “jubilant swing, intricate counterpoint and rich harmonies” which lend themselves well to both concert and worship settings. His best-known works include “Elijah Rock” and “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian”, both of which have become staples in the repertoires of university choirs and professional vocal ensembles around the world.

In addition to his arrangements of traditional spirituals, Hogan also composed original works inspired by the gospel genre. These include “Down in My Soul”, “My Walk with Jesus”, “Total Praise” and “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”, all of which have become popular concert pieces and recording artists in their own right. Hogan’s original compositions are characterized by his signature jubilant swing style and frequently make use of call-and-response between soloist(s) and choir.

The Legacy of Moses Hogan

Moses Hogan’s music is often described as “spirituals arranged for concert performance.” But while his settings of traditional Spirituals are undoubtedly some of his most popular and significant works, Hogan’s larger contribution to the choral music world is his original compositions inspired by the Black experience in America. His “Negro spirituals” – as he called them – are some of the most moving and powerful pieces ever written for choirs, and his anthems and other works based on the African-American experience are performed regularly by choral groups all over the world. In recent years, Moses Hogan’s music has taken on a new life, as it has been embraced by singers of all races and religions who are inspired by its message of hope, faith, and love.