Scrawled Shortcuts through the Research Maze
Grove Music Online
The first stop for all matters musical. Learn how 19th century Spirituals, through ambiguity of wording, coded planned escapes from slavery. In the online encyclopedia, combine the search terms: spirituals and double entendre.
Electronic Resources
Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music
And for an overview of Spirituals themselves, check here. When some of the early 20th c. dance bands adapted Spirituals to secular uses, purists protested this musical urge to “satisfy the emotions of a gang of jitterbugs” (p. 368).
Ref. 782.25403 E563 2005
Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History
What’s the difference between Spirituals and Gospel when it comes to music? The article on “Music” sets us straight on this, and on Blues, Ragtime, Rap….
Ref. 973.0496003 E56e 2006
St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture
We may know that Reggae is Jamaican, but what is the original meaning of the term? The article here on “Reggae” offers some candidates: “ragged” and “street rough”.
Ref. 973.9 S143s
Classical Music Library
“Ragtime,” recently revived on Broadway, was composed by Stephen Flaherty. But for some historic ragtime by the father of the genre, Scott Joplin, hook up your speakers and listen here.
Electronic Resources
Black Firsts
Many impressive firsts here in the Music section, e.g., the first black woman to sing with the New York City Opera: Camilla Williams.
Ref. 973.0496 B6272b
Black Women in America
And speaking of divas, who was that glorious soprano banished from the Metropolitan Opera for, as this source puts it, “ill treatment of colleagues”? Search here for the name.
Electronic Resources