From joyous gospel to deeply felt blues; this wonderful collection contains vintage songs sung and played through the years by black Americans mdash; at work; in church; and for pure entertainment. Included are spirituals; blues; work songs; and a variety of social and dance songs.This important volume was originally compiled in 1940 by Dr. John W. Work; the noted musicologist affiliated with Fisk University and the celebrated Fisk Jubilee Singers. In it; he discusses the origins and history of black American folk music; the influence of slavery and African cultures; and the lyric significance of such much-loved songs as "Swing Low; Sweet Chariot;" Steal Away to Jesus;" "Lord; I Want to Be a Christian;" and "John Henry." These informative notes lead up to the heart of the book: the complete words and music for 230 religious and secular songs; including "Study War No More;" "Keep Me from Sinking Down;" "You May Bury Me in the East;" "Rock of Ages;" "Go Tell It on the Mountain;" and many others.This is an indispensable treasury of music for singers; musicians and all readers seeking a comprehensive sourcebook of black American folk music. It will be equally welcomed at parties; family get-togethers; sing-alongs; church events; and other gatherings where people want to play and sing these classic folk songs that are an integral part of American musical history.
#961491 in eBooks 2013-02-15 2013-02-15File Name: B00CWR50IG
Review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. The Man and His ArtBy Mark R. BrewerMichelangelo was the first tortured artist. He created the mold. When a project took hold of him; he pushed himself to the edge of human endurance. He worked endless hours; hardly eating; sleeping lightly; and never bathing. One might say he was a tad obsessive.Miles J. Unger has written an insightful biography of Michelangelo by looking at six of his masterpieces. The reader will get a strong sense of the man. Michelangelo isnt very likable. Even when young; he thought he was better than everyone else. He was arrogant and insecure. His disliked those who were compared to him; such as daVinci. When something went wrong; he blamed it on others or on the weather; even though the fault lay with him. I certainly wouldnt want to hang out with the guy.But he was surely a genius at sculpture (David) and painting (the Sistine Chapel). Unger helps the layman (me) better appreciate what it is that makes his art so special.The only reason I didnt give this book five stars is that it goes deeply into some technological details that I found rather dry.6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. As close to a page turner as a book of this depth can be!By BDAMiles Ungers study is a focused; fresh; measured look at an ornery genius based on a detailed and thoughtful analysis of primary sources including not only Michelangelos works but his letters and poetry and a vast array of other contemporary sources as well. A fine example: his critical autopsy of Vasaris portrait of Michelangelo. A student of the man; the times and of the church; Unger presents all three in a refreshingly frank and realistic way. But; for all its scholarly qualities; this book is rarely dense and; in my case; never lost its grip on my curiosity. As close to a page turner as a book of this depth can be. If you have seen even one of Michelangelos works in person; you owe it to yourself to read the story behind the man and the work.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A new way of exploring michelangelos work and lifeBy MedTwoMr. Miles Unger writes a masterpiece himself in his endeavor to depict the famed artist. His book seamlessly weaves among subjects ranging from high Renaissance history; political; military turbulence in Florence and Rome; vivid word painting of art pieces; insightful art analysis and Michelangelos life events. Most of his book reflects a deep understanding of the period and thorough research from primary and secondary sources. Mr. Ungers art analysis; in particular is quite impressive; at times simply brilliant; achieving a breathtaking poignancy in exploring the subconscious reaction to the powerful and monumental works of Michelangelo.I hesitated in giving the book a 4 star rating because in many ways it deserves a 5 star. So why? Im personally a bit taken back by the moral compass against which michelangelos many important decision is forcefully compared. "Pathology"; "illicit"; "self serving" are just a few words that the author chooses to describe the artist; sometimes more than once. His passion and devotion to his art influenced many of his life choices. I couldnt help but feel the author looked for a martyr and a saint more than an artist in Michelangelo. Alas; those; he was not. Michelangelo was first and foremost an artist; a sculptor of unparalleled skill and vision. I find the authors passing of such personal judgments upon the artist somewhat excessive at times and perhaps psychologically more revealing about the author himself and his own moral compunction than the artist.With that said; this is an excellent book that deserves to be read and re-read. Though wide reaching in both subjects and depth; Mr. Ungers organic understanding of the troubled and unstable times through which Michelangelo lived in Florence and Rome allowed for a cohesive presentation of the artist and all of his major works in its historical context. With enough details to satisfy scholarly oriented readers and a gift of clarity of words to break down the most complicated technicalities for the casual readers; this book offers a valuable source of information for everyone. Despite the title; Mr. Unger covers all of the artists major works beyond the six masterpiece. I recommend it highly to anyone interested in a refreshing recounting of the major life events in one of the greatest artists in history.