The Apocalypse in African American Spirituals and Blues

Małgorzata Ziółek-Sowińska

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Chapter 8 The Apocalypse in African American Spirituals and Blues

In: Music in the Apocalyptic Mode

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Małgorzata Ziółek-Sowińska

Małgorzata Ziółek-Sowińska
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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 136–176

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004537996_009

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Abstract

This chapter explores the apocalyptic worldview in spirituals and blues songs. Although the blues is a secular music genre and may be perceived as profane, whereas spirituals are sacred songs, both contain apocalyptic motifs. This chapter consists of two subsections: “The Apocalypse, Death, and Eschatological Images of Heaven in African American Spirituals” and “The Apocalypse in African American Blues.” The first examines apocalyptic imagery in the lyrics of spirituals, while the latter traces it in blues music of the twentieth century. Spirituals and blues are closely intertwined: both reflect a profound devotion to Christianity and the persistent belief that Jesus Christ would deliver oppressed American blacks to salvation. Inspired by the Revelation of John, both the unknown composers of the slave spirituals and blues musicians tackled the theme of the destruction of the earthly world, the end of time, catastrophic events, the Day of Judgment, salvation, death, and the fate of the human soul.

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Music in the Apocalyptic Mode

Series: Word and Music Studies, Volume: 20 and Word and Music Studies Online, Volume: 20

E-Book ISBN:: 9789004537996

Publisher:: Brill

Print Publication Date:: 18 Mar 2023

Subjects
- Literature and Cultural Studies
  - General

Front Matter

Part 1 Music in the Apocalyptic Mode

Part 2 Composing in the Apocalyptic Mode

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African Studies	Education	Media Studies
American Studies	History	Middle East and Islamic Studies
Ancient Near East and Egypt	Human Rights and Humanitarian Law	Musicology
Art History	International Law	Philosophy
Asian Studies	International Relations	Religious Studies
Biblical Studies	Jewish Studies	Slavic and Eurasian Studies
Biology	Languages and Linguistics	Social Sciences
Book History and Cartography	Life Sciences	Theology and World Christianity
Classical Studies	Literature and Cultural Studies

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Chapter 8 The Apocalypse in African American Spirituals and Blues

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Music in the Apocalyptic Mode

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