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Gospel Music Research Paper

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Gospel Music Research Paper
“Music is Good for the Soul”, that is what one is able to express when imagining the melodic words or sounds arranged to create what Merriam-Webster (n.d), defines as a structured beauty, harmony, and a means to express an emotion. Such emotion can be found in blues and gospel music. Identified in early times, blues and gospel music has been considered the anchor of many genres of music and the hope of African American’s during their times of oppression.
Blues, established in the secular world of heartache and pain, is sometimes considered “feel good music”. Past and current personal struggles are significant in shaping the lyrics for a blues song. With the sound of its heavy blues guitar and its relateable lyrics, blues, just like gospel can open up an array of emotions. The website Biography.com(n.d), credits the early 1900’s works of W.C Handy, or the “Father of the Blues”, as being the one that made blues music well known. It was his dedication and effort to pursue his musical career that this genre of music was birthed.
Just like blues, gospel music is a genre of soulful music with a strong rhythm, beat and lyrical content. Gospel music reminds one of a spiritual joy, peace and hope while focusing on a higher power. McGovern (n.d) stated in the 1920’s and 1930’s African Americans …show more content…
Where would music be had both never been created? Music, finding its origin in gospel and blues, it is hard to think of any song that does not have an undertone or the sound of one of these genres. There was aquote found on the website BrainyQuote(n.d) by Martin Luther King, that states, “Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.” No matter the age, race, color, or article of faith music is a universal language and without doubt an expression of an emotion for
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