African-American Work Songs



Wappingers Central School DistrictAfrican-American Work SongsMusic 8Mrs. BarrettWJHSName _______________________________________________ Period ____African-American Work SongsCommon Musical ElementsRhythmic A cappellaCall and response form Verses are often improvised sung differently each timeSlaves sung improvised verses about escapingSailors spoke of ills with work conditions and captains Purposeincrease productivity Reduce feelings of boredom. Synchronize physical movement in groups Many work songs serve to create connection and familiarity between workers.Groups and individuals to locate each other Maintain the slow, steady tempo needed for rowing a shipOriginsAfrica Used drum accompaniment, To coordinate sowing and hoeing. What Happens Next?Slaves/Ex-slaves sing work SongsThey convert to ChristianityWork Songs become SpiritualsLeads to Gospel Music and The BluesInteresting Fact…In early African captivity drums were used to provide rhythm, but they were banned in later years because of the fear that Africans would use them to communicate in a rebellion; nevertheless, Africans managed to generate percussion and percussive sounds, using other instruments or their own bodies. CREATE AN AFRICAN AMERICAN WORK SONGBrainstorm PageCREATE: Create a group task/job.Our task/job is to….. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________PURPOSE: Review the purpose of an African American Work Song (pg. 2)What is the purpose of YOUR GROUP’s work song?_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Create and Choreograph your work song!Reference musical elements on pg. 2 “Lightning Long John”REFRAINHe's long John [He's long gone]He's Long gone [He's long John]He's Long, gone [He's gone, gone]He's Lone, gone [He's gone, gone]Verses:Well Ef I had a-listenedWhat Rosie saidI'd a-been at a homeIn a-Rosie's bedBut-a I wouldn' listenGot to runnin' aroun'firs' thing I knowI was jailhouse boundWell, I got in de jailWid my mouf poked outAn Now I'm in the penAn I cain' get out(REFRAIN)Well-a John madeIs A pair of shoesWas the Funnies' shoesDat was ever seenHad a heel in frontAn' a heel behindWell, you couldn’ know whereDat boy was a-gwineWell a two three minutesI’ll be catchin my windAnd in two, three minutes,I’ll be gone againGonna call dis summerAin’ goin’ call no mo'Ef I call nex' summerDen I'm gone some mo' ................
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