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Gospel music
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - Cite This SourceGospel music is music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as (in terms of the varying music styles) to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music.
Like other forms of Christian music the creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of Gospel music varies according to culture and social context. Gospel music is composed and performed for many purposes, ranging from aesthetic pleasure, religious or ceremonial purposes, or as an entertainment product for the marketplace. However, a common theme of most Gospel music is praise, worship or thanks to God and/or Christ.
Style
Gospel music in general is characterized by dominant vocals (often with strong use of harmony) referencing lyrics of a religious nature, particularly Christian. Subgenres include contemporary Gospel, urban contemporary Gospel (sometimes referred to as "black Gospel"), Southern Gospel, and modern Gospel music (now more commonly known as praise and worship music or Contemporary Christian music). Several forms of Gospel music use piano and/or Hammond organ, drums, bass guitar and, increasingly, electric guitar.
Gospel music subgenres
Urban contemporary gospel
Urban contemporary gospel (sometimes marketed as "Black gospel" to help distinguish it from other forms of Christian music, such as contemporary Christian music or Christian rock and Southern Gospel) is a subgenre of Gospel music.Christian Country music
Christian country music, sometimes referred to as Country Gospel music, is a subgenre of gospel music with a country flair, is also known as Inspirational Country.Southern Gospel
Southern gospel, is sometimes called "quartet music" by fans due to the original all male, tenor-lead-baritone-bass quartet make-up.Progressive Southern Gospel
Progressive Southern Gospel is an American music genre that has grown out of Southern Gospel over the past couple of decades.Bluegrass Gospel
Bluegrass Gospel music is rooted in American mountain music.Gospel blues
Gospel blues is a blues-based form of Gospel music (a combination of blues guitar and evangelistic lyrics).Further reading
- Blackwell, Lois. The Wings of a Dove: The Story of Gospel Music in America. Norfolk: Donning, 1978.
- Boyer, Horace Clarence, How Sweet the Sound: The Golden Age of Gospel Elliott and Clark, 1995, ISBN 0-252-06877-7.
- Broughton, Viv, Too Close To Heaven - The Illustrated History Of Gospel Music, Midnight Books, 1996, ISBN 1-900516-00-4
- Albert E Brumley & Sons, The Best of Albert E Brumley, Gospel Songs, 1966, ISBN na-paperback Amazing Grace
- Darden, Robert, People Get Ready: A New History of Black Gospel Music Continuum International Publishing Group, 2005, ISBN 0-8264-1752-3.
- Heilbut, Tony, The Gospel Sound: Good News and Bad Times Limelight Editions, 1997, ISBN 0-87910-034-6.
- McNeil, W. K., Ed. Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music. Routledge, 2005. ISBN 0415941792.
- Stevenson, Arthur L. The Story of Southern Hymnology. Roanoke, VA: Stone Printing and Manufacturing, 1931.
- Zolten, Jerry, Great God A' Mighty!:The Dixie Hummingbirds - Celebrating The Rise Of Soul Gospel Music, Oxford University Press, 2003, ISBN 0-19-515272-7.
Professional organizations
- Firebird Arts Alliance - Encourages all races and religions to join
- Gospel Music Association - Acknowledges all forms of Gospel Music
- Pacific Gospel Music Association - Known for Southern Gospel
- Southern Gospel Music Association - Known for Southern Gospel
- Gospel Wire - Primarily urban contemporary gospel
Media outlets
See also
References
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Last updated on Friday February 29, 2008 at 09:49:55 PST (GMT -0800)
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