New Perspective for the Use of Dialect in African American Spirituals - by Felicia Raphael Marie Barber (Paperback)

About the Book

Perfect for conductors and performers alike, this book traces the history of African American English (AAE), its use in African-American Spirituals, and the sociolinguistic impact of the dialect in the United States. The author also synthesizes research on the topic from the p...

Book Synopsis

Perfect for conductors and performers alike, this book traces the history of African American English (AAE), its use in African-American Spirituals, and the sociolinguistic impact of the dialect in the United States. The author also synthesizes research on the topic from the past century with application guidelines for teachers and performers.

Review Quotes

This unique and critically important text offers the sociocultural context needed for understanding dialect and its use in African American Spirituals. Barber describes the painful reality of the acquisition of African American English through the African Diaspora, while also presenting the language as "a beautiful marriage of features found in both African and English languages." The author de-politicizes the use of dialect in song by situating it in the study of linguistics while simultaneously keeping central the inherent political and social implications for racial equality, inclusion, and diversity in our musical landscape. Barber's approach sheds a bright light on linguistic biases and the profound impact they have on the way we hear, select, perform, and study music. This text is an invitation to all who wish to engage in thinking critically about race, language, and the African American Spiritual.

About the Author

Felicia Raphael Marie Barber is director of choral activities at Westfield State University.