The first class is just coming to a close.
We are in the process of beginning an archive. So far we have the following small projects conducted by individual
graduate students on:
1. Women in the African Methodist Episcopal Church
This involves work with an AME church on Baltimore Ave. that was formed by a woman pastor earlier this year. She herself is an incredible singer. In addition, students have interviewed a woman leader from Bethel Ame church, one of the two founding organizations of the AME.2.Hymnbooks of the 19th century AME Church
Richard Allen, a Philadelphian, formed the first independant church for Freed Africans in the USA, right in West Philadelphia. He created hymnals for his community combined the European repertory with African derived material. Manyof these hymns formed the core of the "Negro Spiritual" repertory that underpins a contemporary gospel performance.3. Gospel Quartet Performance
The fall is the time for Gospel Quartet anniversaries, and one student has been making recordings of these performances on digital audio - and video-tape. He has conducted interviews with several of the quartet members. It is possible this will form part of his doctoral research into white barbershop performance in Philadelphia.4. Gospel on Radio
This project interviews several radio deejays who represent gospel to Philadelphia on talk and public radio.
5. Gospel in Civil Rights
This student has conducted interviews with individuals involved in the Civil Rights era on the subject of musical performance.6. Children and Gospel Performance at Millenium Baptist Church
Millennium Baptist church is the church we have focused our fieldwork on this semester because through Winnie Smart-Mapp (OCP) we have had access to this community. The project examines the transmission of gospel music to young children through the Sunbeam choir.7. Orality and Literacy in Millenium
This project focuses on the use of books, th eplace of collective memory, and the relationship to the written word in Millennium Sunday services.