Transcript Southern Literature: Vernacular Traditions

Southern Literature:
Vernacular Traditions
How did these traditions influence
the literature as well as music?
What is vernacular?

Vernacular is a from of expression that
is passed down orally (by word of
mouth) or by demonstration from
person to person rather than the
written word (Literature of the
American South, 1998)
What is a tradition?

A tradition is the passing down of
elements of a culture from generation
to generation, especially by oral
communication OR a time honored
practice or set of practices (American
Heritage Dictionary)
What are some pieces of oral
communication that became literature or
eventually music?
Spirituals
Gospel
Ballads
and
Lyrics
Work,
The
Organizing, Blues
Protest
Songs
Country
SPIRITUALS
Description



Songs that draw heavily on
retelling Christian biblical
events
Has white and black cultural
influence, but mostly
originated in the African
American culture during
slavery
Slavery started as early as
the 1600’s in Europe and
carried over into America
until the late 1800’s
Characteristics

Simple, can be easily memorized

Sometimes mention issues of slavery

Deal with the condition of being in this world as
well as the shape of the next
Spirituals also often known as the:

Negro spiritual
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Black spiritual
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African American spiritual

Jubilee
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Slave songs

African American folk songs
EXAMPLES
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Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
Lay Down Body
Gospel Music
Description

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In the Christian religion gospel
means “good news”
American gospel had its
influence from the white and
black communities during the
1700’s and 1800’s
Black Gospel

Derived from spirituals, blues,
hymns

In the beginning not many
instruments were used, present day
some piano, guitar and drums
White Gospel

Derived from Sacred Harp music
which was based on shape note
music (see next slide)

No instruments used much at all in
the beginning
Gospel (cont.)
Sacred Harp
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Method of learning gospel music
Mostly religious but can be about morals, patriotism,
community, or praise
Book is still sold today and there is a museum in
Georgia showcasing shape style of notes
Still practiced in a lot of Georgia churches today
Scared Harp Pictures
Scared Harp Pictures (cont.)
Sacred Harp (cont.)
Ballads and Lyrics
Description
 Folksongs that tell a story are called ballads
 Folksongs that express thought or feeling
from a situation are termed lyrics
 Southern folksongs influences of culture:
Appalachian whites, Louisiana Cajuns, Texans
of both Anglo and Latino heritages, and
Mississippi Delta blacks
Work, Organizing, and Protest
Songs
Description

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Work songs are sung while people are at work typically
heavy manual labor; Leader alternates singing lines with
the workers
Organizing Songs were sung mostly during the 1920’s and
30’s in response to workers feeling they were being
exploited
Protest songs were influenced by organizing songs and
quickly were used to promote a group’s ideas in response
of another; example Civil Rights Movement song “We Shall
Overcome”
The Blues
Description
 “Aural music, intended to take on its shape ad
style during performance” (Southern)
 Vocal and instrumental
 Certain features are common such as the
three line stanza with the second line being a
restatement of the first and the third
 Entire song of twelve measures
 Typical aab pattern
The Southern Blues Artists
Country
Description

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Typically known as country-western
Originated in the Southern United States
Also known as the “working man’s song”
Started as folk music
REFERENCES
WEBSITES
http://www.mcsr.olemiss.edu/~mudws/faq/#1
http://en.wikipedia.org/
http://dictionary.reference.com/
http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-549
Literature
The Literature of the
American South, 1998