De beste bøkene om gospel

Gospelmusikk har hatt stor betydning for utviklingen av moderne musikk.

Sjangeren har påvirket alt fra soul og R&B til pop og hiphop, og har røtter som strekker seg tilbake til afroamerikanske kirkesamfunn tidlig på 1900-tallet.

Det handler ikke bare om tro – det handler om følelse, formidling og fellesskap.

Med sterke stemmer, rytmiske driv og budskap fulle av håp og livskraft, har gospel satt sitt preg på musikkhistorien i over hundre år.

Her finner du et utvalg bøker, men også musikken for deg som vil bli bedre kjent med gospel – enten du nettopp har oppdaget sjangeren eller ønsker å gå dypere inn i historien, menneskene og musikken.

Her er en spilleliste basert på den fantastiske 6-CD-boksen Goodbye, Babylon fra Dust-to-Digital – et utmerket lydspor til videre lesing. Halleluja!

Her er noen personlige favoritter:

The Gospel Sound – Good news and bad times av Anthony Heilbut

“It is a very beautiful book, with love and precision, no pity — a little like a gospel song . . . I didn’t know that anybody knew that much about it, or cared that much, or could be so tough and lucid.” — James Baldwin

People Get Ready!: A New History Of Black Gospel Music av Robert Darden

"Darden reaches back to Africa to establish a foundation for his cogent discussion of matter relevant to a historical study of religion and sacred music, and he makes these matters seem like part of the complete fabric rather than vignettes.... The approach is scholarly throughout, but the narrative is as lucid and flowing as any lay reader might wish....the book covers a broad range and merits serious consideration. Highly recommended." -Choice, 5/05

A City Called Heaven: Chicago and the Birth of Gospel Music av Robert M. Marovich

A City Called Heaven celebrates a sound too mighty and too joyous for even church walls to hold.

Spirit of the Century: Our Own Story av The Blind Boys of Alabama og Preston Lauterbach

"For more than seventy-five years since my Gospel-singing, schoolteacher mother introduced me to the Five Blind Boys from Alabama, we have been graced with their magnificent music, their thundering, harmonic power that moves soul and spirit. They've stood the test of time and they're still striking hot iron with every note. Get on board with Spirit of the Century--people get ready, this is the train that's comin'!"--Taj Mahal

I'll Take You There: Mavis Staples, the Staple Singers, and the March up Freedom's Highway av Greg Kot

This is the untold story of living legend Mavis Staples—lead singer of the Staple Singers and a major figure in the music that shaped the civil rights era. One of the most enduring artists of popular music, Mavis and her talented family fused gospel, soul, folk, and rock to transcend racism and oppression through song. - Amazon

Respect : the Life of Aretha Franklin av David Ritz

Only someone who had the complete confidence and trust of Aretha's family and the elite of the Gospel and Rhythm and Blues communities could have gotten this story. An intimate and thorough account of this phenomenal woman's talent and life as only David Ritz could capture. ― Tommy LiPuma

Woke me up this morning : black gospel singers and gospel life av Alan Young

Many studies of African-American gospel music spotlight history and style. This one, however, is focused mainly on grassroots makers and singers. Most of those included here are not stars. A few have received national recognition, but most are known only in their own home areas. Yet their collective stories presented in this book indicate that black gospel music is one of the most prevalent forms of contemporary American song. - Amazon

Close harmony : a history of southern gospel av James R. Goff

This volume traces the development of the music known as "southern gospel" from its antebellum origins to its 20th-century emergence as a vibrant musical industry driven by the world of radio, television, recording and concert promotions. Marked by smooth, tight harmonies and a lyrical focus on the message of Christian salvation, southern gospel - particularly the white gospel quartet tradition - had its roots in 19th-century shape-note singing. - Amazon

How sweet the sound : the golden age of gospel av Horace Clarence Boyer

Traces the development of gospel music from the turn of the century to the present, and discusses major gospel styles and performers. - Amazon

The Sound of Light: A History of Gospel and Christian Music av Don Cusic

The Sound of Light is a sweeping overview of the history of gospel music. Powerful and incisive, it traces contemporary Christianity and Christian music to the 16th century and the Protestant Reformation after examining music in the Bible and early church music. From the psalms of the early Puritans through the hymns of human composure of Isaac Watts and the social activism of the Wesleys, gospel music was established in 18th century America. - Amazon

Les også:

• Real love, no drama : the music of Mary J. Blige av Danny Alexander
• Shout, sister, shout : the untold story of rock-and-roll trailblazer sister Rosetta Tharpe av Gayle Wald
• The pilgrim jubilees av Alan Young
• Aretha Franklin's Amazing Grace av Aaron Cohen
• Rytmer rett i hjertet : en beretning om den kristne populærmusikkens historie i Norge av O. Solvang
• Mot de store høyder av Mahalia Jackson
• Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music
• Døden i baksetet : og andre bakgrunnsfortellinger om kjente gospelsanger og -sangere av Nils-Petter Enstad
• Black gospel : an illustrated history of the gospel sound av Viv Broughton
• British black gospel : the foundations of this vibrant UK sound av Steve Alexander Smith
• The rise of gospel blues : the music of Thomas Andrew Dorsey in the Urban Church av Michael W. Harris