Steal Away Home: The Spirituals as Voice of Hope

Authors

  • Norman King University of Windsor
  • Jane Ripley Independent scholar.

Abstract

In melodies of simple yet profound beauty, in lyrics of vivid images, and in rhythms drawn from their homeland, the songs that came to be known as spirituals give voice to the suffering and hope of an enslaved people. This music expresses a suffering of body, mind, and spirit, a protest against injustice, a hope for freedom, and a conviction of worth despite all afflictions. At the same time, it embodies the beauty of the human soul beneath and beyond all cruelty. Often sung in secret gatherings, the spirituals enabled those enslaved to express an interior soul space that the harshness of slave owners and slave drivers could not reach. These songs ultimately became a source of inspiration and courage as that inner spirit of freedom became outwardly realized in the movement known as the Underground Railroad. This paper will explore themes of word, melody, and rhythm within the spirituals as they bear witness then and now to the capacity of music to express and sustain the depth, beauty, and power of the human spirit. If we listen carefully, we may hear in the spirituals a voice of universal significance; a voice that reaches beyond all culture, race, gender – beyond all differences – to the core of our shared humanity.

Author Biographies

Norman King, University of Windsor

NORMAN KING, MA, PhD, is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at the University of Windsor. His research and teaching have focused on the human quest for meaning in the twentieth century, with emphasis on the work of German theologian Karl Rahner and American essayist Thomas Merton. In his teaching, Norman has encouraged students to discover the core of our shared humanity, within yet beyond all difference and diversity.

Jane Ripley, Independent scholar.

JANE RIPLEY, B.Mus., CHM, is a teacher of voice, piano, and theory, and directs two treble ensembles. She has recorded an instrumental CD of sacred music, featuring violin, cello, and keyboard, and enjoys composing piano and vocal music. In her private music studio, she not only communicates the technical skills of music, but also tries to assist her students to recognize and feel the capacity of music to reach and express the human spirit. In addition to their individual professional careers, Norman King and Jane collaborate on academic papers and articles, and give lectures and workshops on spirituality, story, and music. They have co- authored a book of reflective verse, entitled Touching the Spirit: Reflections from the Heart. They find story and music to be a profound pathway to the human spirit and vehicle for its expression. This theme is echoed in one of their current projects, a book on the human meaning of the spirituals. Their website is .

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Published

2013-10-29