Hi Randye,
I know what you mean. Laypeople really dig that kind of stuff, and
they probably couldn't without something that they could identify
with, like the swaying of the hips and everything. However,
especially soulful singing usually does the trick. You did the right
thing by just closing your eyes and trying to listen. As they say,
"to each his own", but I believe art forms such as this should be
appreciated in their original form. If people can't "get it" without it
being polluted with popular idioms, then let that be too bad for
them, not the music. The last thing I'd want to see is for this kind
of behavior to catch on, so that we'd eventually see music videos of
scantily-clad women dancing to a sample of "In That Great Gettin'
Up Morning".
Bob
On 5 Jun 2001, at 9:42, diva wrote:
> hi, all.
>
> sunday afternoon, i was treated to an evening of spirituals performed by
> some of the local (washington, dc) talent, including a choir from duke
> ellington school of the arts--elijah has rarely rocked better 8-), plus
> the presence of mrs. sylvia olden lee.
>
> for the most part, the program was very enjoyable. however, something
> bothered me. one of the singers seemed to feel that her exaggerated
> gestures and body movements were a necessary part of her performance.
> after finally adjusting her shawl--which took most of her first selection
> to do, she threw her arms out and swung her hips in what i presume was an
> effort to "get into the music."
>
> the audience ate it up. all i could do was close my eyes and try to
> simply listen.
>
> maybe it's just me, but what i saw was far more reminiscent of musical
> theatre than spirituals performance. it's not the first time something
> like this has been staged. a couple of years ago, i watched a choir
> mangle a song by trying to perform it with choreography.
>
> maybe i'm being unrealistic, but i do not believe these songs are
> well-served by attempting to "popularize" them. i've always regarded
> spirituals as a deeply personal expression, a private communication in
> song, even when performed on a concert stage. i keep any gestures simple
> and understated and let my voice do the rest.
>
> what do you think?
>
> randye
Robert James, Jr., Fine Arts Resource Center Coordinator
Dept. of Performing & Fine Arts <http://spacer.uncfsu.edu/d_fah/>
Fayetteville State University/Fayetteville, NC 28301-4298
Phone: (910) 672-1439; Fax: (910) 672-1572
