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WorksheetsField Hollers, Work Songs & Spirituals
Total questions: 10
Worksheet time: 11mins
field hollers were performed
by one person who was excused from work to provide entertainment to the other workers
by a band on the side of the field
collectively by those working
what purposes did field hollers serve?
helped pass the time while working
helped release the emotions of those singing
helped workers feel in solidarity with others -- share the burden of their work
helped express the collective longing for freedom
This sound clip is from the group
Sweet Honey in the Rock
MacIntosh County Shouters
Nirvana
Texas Penitentiary Singers
the lyrics in this work song express
the desire to lie down and watch tv
the exhaustion of the workers
happiness that the singers are out working on a beautiful day
the percussive sounds in this audio clip are probably
sounds from inside a factory
sounds of dancing
talking drums
hammers hitting railroad ties
What are some reasons white slave owners banned African music on their plantations?
they considered the music to be idolatrous and wild
they hated music of all kinds
they feared the music could incite revolts
they wanted to weaken the people working for them by cutting them off from their cultural heritage
this sound clip is from
a field holler
a ring shout
the blues
a spiritual
Some characteristics of traditional African music found in Field Hollers include
call and response
participatory, collective music making
beat felt on the 2 and 4
use of improvisation
use of drums
describe how some spirituals helped keep the hope of freedom alive, and even provide directions for how to escape
Culturally and historically, where do field hollers come from? How did they develop in the US? Your answer should be at least a paragraph long and include the words "Africa" and "slavery"
