Slavery and the Making of Music, Research Paper Example

Introduction

Slavery is a form of forced labor in which people are taken as property of others against their wishes and will. They are denied the right to leave or even receive wages. Evidence of slavery is seen from written records of ancient times from all cultures and continents. Some societies viewed it as a legal institution. In the United States, slavery was inevitable even after the end of American Revolution. Slavery in united states had its origins during the English colonization of north America in 1607 but the African slaves were sold  in 1560s this was due to demand for cheap labor to exploit economic opportunities. Slaves engaged in composition of music in order to preserve the cultures they came with from Africa and for encouragement purposes..

Music is an art and a wonderful gift to human race. It soothes, stimulates and makes us feel happy. It affects our moods in many different ways from lullaby to war cry for changes in the society. Music is actually distinct to different people. Above all, it has a transformational importance that is captured in its art and nature. Music draws our emotions and it has an impact of bridging different cultures across the continents. Slave songs were very vital channels through which all kind of information was conveyed both positive and negative.

Slave music was divided into three groups; recreational, work songs and religious songs. A work song is some sought of music connected with specific work that is sung while conducting a task, timing or even appealing for protest. Work songs helped to organize groups of people into manageable units hence easing the burden of hard labor. Records of work song are ancient like the historical records; they vary depending on the type of work being conducted. For example, agricultural songs were sung when people were working on hard physical work especially repetitive work.

The songs were developed to reduce the level of boredom and increase production, these songs created a sense of familiarity and togetherness among workers. The African American work songs were created during the slave era in the seventeenth century; many had their origin in traditions of Africa and were sung to remind them of home or ordered by their masters to boost morale and keep slaves working. They have also been seen as means of endurance, expressing of anger and frustration via verbal signals. Some aspects like call and response were said to be rooted in African tradition, where a leader could sing a verse and be repeated by the greater mass. This eventually led to spirituality development which acted as a basis for Christianity leading to modern day gospels and blues.

Religious songs were also another group. They were sung accompanied by clapping of hands and foot stamping. Slaves had their own ways of praying and worshipping in their native land which assisted them to be introduced to Christianity. Africans used to sing songs, give testimonies and worship to their gods and deities; a culture which they could not forsake. These songs were classified as work, jubilee and social. Work songs sung while working in the field to give the black community hope and freedom. Social songs contained social messages and the jubilee songs were sung in the church.

Recreational songs on the other hand were listened to during free time; this music was performed on string instruments. It is during this free time that slaves intermingled, slept, socialized and told stories. Adult slaves were main story tellers. Songs and tales helped the black community to reflect about past lives, misery of enslavement and hope for a brighter future. It was therefore clear that music referred to what the black community was enduring which was pain and suffering.

Background

If you may ask yourself, how did slave life look like? The slaves viewed their lives in relation with that of an animal because they knew they were going to work for the rest of their lives. They were treated pathetically and most of their time was spend on the plantations either picking cotton or harvesting crops. Their masters fed them on poor nutrition. For them to counter this, they sang different types of songs to keep them going. These songs helped the slaves to be occupied all the time in order to avoid stress and depression; helped to escape to freedom. The African slaves were able to talk about their lives in Africa before they were taken captive; their wives, children, homes and the pain that they went through during captivation. For instance ‘Dayo’ was a song sang by slaves and it is still heard today[1]. Spirituals were religious afro-American songs that were composed by the slaves. This took place during the camp gathering. Gospels were sung to pass time; it also supported the growing belief in the biblical context and the succession of all odds to make ends meet.

The church was seen as a sanctuary for black slave expression where the slaves worshipped freely without white people interference. The gospels were also used as means of escape from captivity and bondage. This music was used like codes and camflouging message so that the slave master could not know what they were talking about. Many of the songs sang had a traveling feeling which helped them to know how to nurture for directions and give testimonies showing how God has transformed their lives for example the gandy dancers. The spiritual work songs gave time for relaxing as slaves learned labor tasks beat by beat. This in turn helped them to express their stress and experience. They acted like healing songs such as ‘don’t drink water that is standing’, this taught children how to protect themselves.

Afro-Americans lyrics encouraged the slaves in many ways. They acted as methods of surpassing monotony and encouraged slaves in their work by holding on to their tradition of living in harmony; the spiritual songs tended to provide a pillar where joyful faith was build rather than being bitter towards the slave masters. More so, the reflection of way of life in African context gave them the energy to endure all the pains and sufferings. The biblical stories reshaped the desires of the slaves. They knew that one day they would be set free by power of Christ. The idea of determination to overcome slavery was evident since they held on the faith that someday slavery will be gone.

In their verses they emphasized the need to be patient; this was facilitated by praying to God to help since they themselves could not be helped by their thoughts. Slaves in their songs depicted their weariness which to them, meant that death was not a threat at all. Moreover some songs were there to alert the slaves that the master was on his way coming so that there fellow slaves could work hard to avoid the beatings Africans who were sold in the America suffered massively. The slave owner provided Africans with pots, puns, building materials and food. It was their duty to construct there shelters when they were free ². It was [2] also during this time that they shared their experiences with others. This free time was used in composition and creation of music to boost there ego while they worked.

Evidence From Early Slavery Days

In the slavery days, African slaves produced music for both themselves and there masters. Good musicians were like an investment in there homes since studios and television did not exist. American’s homes were not exceptional. Africa Americans mixed with the whites. They were taught how to use instruments. They played it in there own homes as well as what might have been early banjo discovered by Negroes. After the liberation, these songs spread across America in large and small towns. There were live bands similar to those that were being heard throughout the country. Also present were dances that composed of brass and string instruments. The rural Negroes invented a number of instruments like mandolins, banjos and fiddles which led to development of guitars. Vocal masters like Henry Thomas made a contribution to modern blues; he sang story songs and dance tunes.

Music Writers From Early Slavery Days

Among the popular ancient song writers were Emmett and Foster. They wrote popular song of the century some of which are still heard today. Emmett was born in Ohio. Though not well educated, he was musically gifted, he was from the southern states and his music reflected the culture of the southern people. Such songs included de boatman’s dance and old Dan tucker. These songs describe how some slaves escaped from the plantations and their desire to be free from oppression. Emmett’s later song ‘I wish I was in Dixie’s land’ was popular in the south. It was played during inauguration of Jefferson Davis and eventually reclaimed as patriotic song in the north by Abraham Lincoln . Stephen foster was born in Pennsylvania. His songs ‘old folks at home’ and ‘ching a ring chaw’ were well known.

Langston Hughes was born in Missouri in 1902. Hughes is known as the voice of black people. His works had a lot of impact on the Negroes history as seen from his works. Hughes depicted in his poetic greatness the roots of poverty and depression of black race brought about by the American society.

Songs That Are Still Heard Today

Since the slavery days, many of the hymns composed are listened to today because they carry essential messages and as a way of preserving ancient Africa America culture ³. A[3]n example is the freedom songs. Freedom is simply the absence of coercion as an obstacle to abuse of rights of others. Most restrictions in this sense are caused by the government since its legal monopoly to use force in governmental organization may also infringe on the rights of people. Freedom songs endorsed the need to be humane; an attitude that existed since slavery days. Coded songs are also vital during 1800s, slaves went through racial discrimination and they felt they were to escape through the Underground Railroad. They sang songs that conveyed various messages and directions on which path to escape from. Coded slave songs originated from African American churches. Slaves from rural areas remained calm after normal worship services and dancing. This gave them time to reflect on their personal emotions and experience. Songs are great part of our history; it is through them that we know about our past, how they worked and how the daily lives of our ancestors were. These songs are used today for encouragement when undertaking certain tasks.

Impact of Slavery Songs

Slaves tried to preserve there culture. This was made possible by there involvement in music. Various attempts were made to stop Africans from practicing their traditional rituals since the w[4]hites feared that slave uprising would occur. Afro- American music had a lot of influence on modern culture starting from New Orleans where the mixture of brass band of white people and music structure of the Negroes changed the entire realm of music ⁴. The American musicians worked within the confines of strict rules; an element that was absent in the Africa-America music. In the plantations, one could hear people singing in rhythm and pace just like the sea shanties did. It prevented them from being [5]whipped thus reducing physical injuries ⁵. History was also told through stories and folksongs. Music was used for celebration of anything like birth or wedding even the meaning of the words were very important in conveying certain message to the people.

Conclusion

Therefore, to endure the pains and sufferings the slaves had to use music. As illustrated above, the advent of music had far reaching results as it encouraged and gave them hope to continue working. The early music composers are the evidence of existence of early music which in turn has shaped today’s music like the blues and pop lyrics. In this case, the culture of the past has been rescued from getting lost.

Work Cited               

Cederic, Cullingford. Music, Meaning and Transformation: Meaningful Music Making for Life. New castle Upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2007.

Kevin, Bales. Ending slavery: How we free today’s Slaves. Whitefish, MT: Kessinger Publishers, 2007.

Marion, Bauer. How Music Grew From Prehistoric Times to Present Days. .Berkeley: University of California Press, 2004.

Paul, Escott D, Slavery Remembered: A Record of twentieth-century Slave Narratives. North Carolina: University of North Carolina Press, 1979.

Rebecca, Schloss H. Sweet liberty: The Final Days of Slavery in Martinique. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2009.

[1]Cederic Cullingford, Music, Meaning and Transformation: Meaningful Music Making for Life (New castle Upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2007) 23-29.

[2] Kevin Bales, Ending slavery: How we free Today’s slaves, (Whitefish, MT Kessinger Publisher, 2004) 40 -51.

[3]Cederic Cullingford, Music, Meaning and Transformation: Meaningful Music Making for Life (New castle Upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2007) 63-65

[4]Marion Bauer, How music Grew from prehistoric Times to Present Day (Berkeley: University of California, 2004) 72-80.

[5] Rebecca Schloss H., Sweet liberty: The Final Days of Slavery in Martinique, (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press 2009) p42-49.