History

Two musical traditions, originating from Europe and adapted by African American converts to Christianity.

The story of African American religious music as a moral weapon, to galvanize individuals for worship and for action in the civil rights struggles of the century.

The sound, history and legacy of the concert or arranged spiritual, and the role of the black university in developing a repertoire that blends African American and European influences.

The struggle of African Americans seeking careers as classical concert artists, featuring Roland Hayes, Paul Robeson, Marian Anderson, Leontyne Price, Jessye Norman, Kathleen Battle and others.

Composers like Harry T. Burleigh, Nathaniel Dett and William Dawson, who applied Western classical music training to the traditional spiritual and created a new repertoire for the concert stage.

The legacy of this internationally renowned ensemble, innovators of the "jubilee" singing style that influenced the national sound of quartets in the black community before World War II.

The "father of gospel music," whose efforts led to an innovative performance style and refashioned existing music to reflect experiences of African Americans who migrated to urban communities.

The first gospel drama playwright, producer and composer, whose compositions were the first million-record sellers in gospel music.

Shout songs, drums, clapping, horns and choral chants that fed the evolution of 20th century gospel music.

The contributions made by composer-musicians Roberta Martin and Kenneth Morris, who continued Thomas Dorsey's work.