African American Heritage Hymnal: 575 Hymns, Spirituals, and Gospel Songs

Book Overview

Eight years of inspired work by a committee of more than 30 musicians and pastors, all leaders in African American worship and gospel music, have resulted in this compendium representing the common... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1579991246
• ISBN13: 9781579991241
• Release Date: September 2001
• Publisher: GIA Publications
• Length: 1104 Pages
• Weight: 2.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.4" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Excellent source of the traditional, rare spirituals, and gospels

The title of this review says it all. "The African-American Heritage Hymnal" is, literally, a GOD-send for those churches that need a handy and comprehensive collection of songs commonly performed in the black church. Though the majority of the songs in the book are familiar to most Protestants in this country, the book features litanies and responsive readings that are singularly designed for an African-American congregation. The book also contains two invaluable historical documents: "The Ecumenical Nature of African American Church Music" and "African American Music and the Freedom Movement". Both essays are highly informative and entertaining reads.

10 Stars!

I'm rating this book as a historian and African American Studies resources specialist rather than as someone using it in worship. With that in mind, let me say I have yet to "stump" this hymnal. No matter what song comes to my mind, there it is in the index. Citations regarding authorship & copyright are thorough, the introductory essays informative, and the "Index of Composers, Authors and Sources" invaluable. The only other book which even compares is Songs of Zion, first published by the United Methodist Church in 1981. It has half as many songs though it does include a few not found here...what a vast musical tradition this is! This is a book that belongs in every library, and on the bookshelf of anybody with an interest in African American sacred music traditions.Curator, AfroAmericanHeritage dot com

Oh, yes!

This collection of hymns, spirituals, and gospel songs is a total delight. As soon as I opened this book and started playing this music on my keyboard, I could hear heavenly gospel choirs singing in my head. Of course, there are many hymns and songs included here that most people would know, but what makes this hymnbook a treasure are the songs specific to the African-American tradition, with harmonies that unmistakeably suggest a black gospel choir. As a bonus, there is a good quantity of responsive readings in the front of the book suitable for use in the worship service. This book will get you into the Spirit, whether you are black, white, or anything in between. The "African-American Heritage Hymnal" zoomed right to the top of my hymnal collection list the moment it arrived. Get it, you won't be sorry!

the best hymnal ever!!

The church that I go to recently purchased these hymnals to use and I love them. The book has a wide variety of songs, from traditional hymns to childrens songs to contempory songs that are popular in the African American church. the music director at my church would have to go through tons of music books to find the right songs for the choir, then another set for praise and worship, then another for devotionals and so on. Now it is easier to find a song.

Lots of favorites

I was raised in the Baptist church, though it has been many years since I've been in one. But looking through this hymnal, on page after page I found one or another old favorite tune leaping into my head. Regardless of your denomination, you are sure to find many songs worth singing here. This hymnal contains more than 600 songs, with four-part harmony for nearly all, though no guitar chords. It sticks to the traditional lyrics, retaining archaisms like "thou" and non-politically-correct terms like "men" and "father" where the original authors wrote them. There are some songs here which seem to have been dropped from some hymnals, such as "Onward Christian Soldiers" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic". One note -- while the book includes plenty of spirituals and gospel songs, these are outnumbered by what I would consider "standard" hymns and revival songs which are not specifically associated with African-American churches. I think this is a good thing, since it emphasizes how much musical heritage all English-speaking Protestants share.