Never before available in high and low voice versions this new edition of Johnson's classic spiritual arrangements features new music engravings Johnson's original preface and notes on the pieces a guide to modified Englishtexts for the spirituals and a CD of piano accompaniments recorded by Laura Ward.

Singers will cherish these powerful solo arrangements by Mark Hayes, Jay Althouse, Philip Kern, Greg Gilpin, and other fine Alfred arrangers. Including favorite traditional spirituals like Deep River, Sit Down Servant, Witness, and Down in the Valley to Pray, this inspirational collection is essential to every solo singer's library. Fresh contemporary arrangements that sing and play well, available in medium high and medium low editions, with or without the accompaniment CD.

The plantation songs known as 'spirituals' are the spontaneous outbursts of intense religious fervour and had their origin chiefly in camp meetings revivals and other religious exercises.They were never 'composed' but sprang into life ready made from the white heat of religious fervour during some protracted meeting in camp or church as the simple ecstatic utterance of wholly untutored minds and are practically the only music in America which meets the scientific definition of Folk Song.Harry Burleigh became a linguist singing in Hebrew as well as Latin Italian French and German. For several years he regarded his casual efforts at composition as merely mentalexercises until friends virtually forced him to publish. 'Deep River' published in 1917 made Harry Burleigh well known as a composer. His 'Little Mother Of Mine' was sung throughout the world by John McMormack.

Ten Spirituals arranged by Moses Hogan for solo voice and piano. Moses Hogan has added his own unique contribution to the deep river of the Negro spirituals. As is evident in the songs of the Deep River Collection in his work are fused the harmonic sensibility honed by his years as a student and practitioner of classical piano literature his love of the human voice and his musical roots in the African-American Baptist church.

For Classical Singres-Selection of sacred songs and spirituals that are appropriate for classical singers. Suitable for performances in church or recital. With a companion accompaniment CD.