Music in the Souls of Black Folk

W.E.B. Du Bois’s The Souls of Black Folk is a classic work of American literature that explores what it means to be black in America. In this blog post, we take a look at the music that inspired Du Bois and how it shaped his writing.

Introduction: The Negro and Music

The Negro and music—this phrase suggests at once an old and a new problem. The old question comes to us from the past, when the powers of music were sullenly and slowly recognised by a race which at first regarded it with suspicion and fear. The new question is forced upon us by the present, when the soul of the Negro is Stirring with a low, sweet moan for liberty, equality, and fraternity; and when his music expresses these ineffable longings better than his spoken words. These are the two problems which we shall endeavour to answer in this book.

We shall first make a study of the mental and spiritual development of the Negro through music; secondly, we shall make an analysis of certain typical Negro melodies; thirdly, we shall examine some of the more important questions concerning the place of music in modern civilisation. And in all these investigations we shall keep ever in mind that great spiritual fact which lies at the root of all true art—the fact that “beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.”

The Sorrow Songs

The Sorrow Songs, also known as the Negro spirituals, are a genre of music that was created by the slaves who were brought over from Africa during the Atlantic Slave Trade. These songs were used as a form of expression and resistance against the oppression and injustice that they faced on a daily basis.

The lyrics of the Sorrow Songs often convey themes of hope, perseverance, and resilience in the face of adversity. They also offer a glimpse into the lives of the slaves, their culture, and their belief systems. Many of the Sorrow Songs were later adapted into hymns and gospel songs that are still sung today.

While the Sorrow Songs were created out of necessity, they are also beautiful examples of the strength and determination of the human spirit. These songs continue to resonate with people all over the world who are fighting for freedom and justice.

The Jubilee Singers

The Jubilee Singers were a group of African-American musicians who toured the United States and Europe in the late 19th century. They were organized by George Whitefield Taylor, a professor at the newly-established Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. The group was initially formed to raise money for the struggling university, which had been founded just a few years earlier to provide education for newly-freed slaves.

The Jubilee Singers quickly became famous for their renditions of spirituals, which were a popular form of music among black Americans at the time. They toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe, and their popularity helped to increase awareness of the struggles of black Americans. In addition to their work as musicians, the Jubilee Singers also helped to promote racial equality and education for all Americans.

Spirituals and the Blues

Spirituals and the blues are two of the most important genres of music in the Souls of Black Folk. Spirituals are religious songs that were created by African American slaves in the United States. The blues is a type of music that originated in the American South and is known for its sad, emotional lyrics.

Ragtime

Ragtime music was born in the 1880s in African American communities in the southern United States. It was a synthesis of African and European musical traditions, and its popularity quickly spread beyond the black community. By the early 20th century, ragtime had become one of America’s most popular forms of music.

Ragtime is characterized by its syncopated (or “ragged”) rhythms. The most famous ragtime piece is Scott Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag.” Ragtime music was often played on pianos in bars, brothels, and other public places, and it became associated with illicit activities such as gambling and drinking.

Ragtime fell out of fashion in the 1920s, but it has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in recent years. In 2001, the film “Monster’s Ball” featured a ragtime cover of Sting’s “Shape of My Heart,” and in 2003, piano ragtime pieces were used in the soundtrack for the film “Cold Mountain.”

Jazz

Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, United States. It developed from roots in blues and ragtime, and features improvisation, syncopation, and a swinging rhythmic feel. Jazz is characterized by brass and woodwind instruments such as the trumpet, saxophone, and clarinet, as well as piano and guitar. It has a wide variety of subgenres ranging from New Orleans style to bebop to fusion.