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Questions and Answers
What characterized the growth of voodoo as a cult in the United States?
Which city became known as the capital of 'root work' in voodoo?
What was a significant ritual practice associated with voodoo ceremonies?
How did voodoo as an institutionalized cult evolve over time?
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Which deity was particularly significant in voodoo worship in New Orleans?
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What was a notable characteristic of the singing style of slaves influenced by their African heritage?
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Which element was NOT indicated as part of the African style of song performance?
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How did spirituals reflect the synthesis of African and European elements?
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What did white observers often label the slave songs as?
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Which characteristic of the singing style involved vocal techniques that could not easily be notated?
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What spiritual practice incorporates European and African traditions in the realm of magic?
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Which statement correctly describes the challenges faced by those trying to transcribe spirituals?
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What was a common feature of the spirituals that expressed religious feelings among the slaves?
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Study Notes
The African Heritage
- The style of African spirituals was influenced by African traditions. Observers found it difficult to replicate the unique aspects of spirituals, such as the “odd turns made in the throat” and “curious rhythmic effect”.
- Key elements of the African singing style included call and response, polyrhythms, syncopation, ornamentation, slides from one note to another, and repetition.
- This African style of song performance could not be fully captured in printed versions, leading to descriptions of the songs as "wild," "strangely fascinating," "peculiar quality," and "barbaric" by white observers.
- Despite the African style of singing, the spirituals were performed in praise of the Christian God. African gods were replaced with Biblical figures and Christian imagery.
- The fusion of African style and European hymnody created a new, Afro-American song. This new form expressed the joys and sorrows of the religion adopted by the slaves.
Folk Belief: From Vaudou to Conjuring
- Voodoo, a religious practice originating in Africa, had a significant presence in New Orleans. It flourished until the late 19th century, often associated with slaves brought from the French West Indies.
- Voodoo's influence in Louisiana was exacerbated by the emigration of slaves and free blacks from Saint-Domingue during the Haitian Revolution.
- Voodoo in the United States is often distinguished between an organized cult and a system of magic. The institutionalized cult gradually disintegrated, while the practice of "root work" persisted in folk beliefs among slaves and their descendants.
- Voodoo priests and priestesses, particularly in New Orleans, were renowned for their knowledge of "root work," leading to the association of voodoo and hoodoo with conjuring and conjurers. This distinct practice extended beyond the cultic origin of Voodoo.
- Voodoo in New Orleans revolved around the worship of a snake god. Ceremonies commonly involved drumming, dancing, singing, possession, animal sacrifice, eating, and drinking.
- The god Damballa, often seen as a snake and rainbow, was connected to fluidity and control over human destinies. His worship was particularly prominent in the coastal kingdoms of Arada and Ouidah.
- Vaudou is a distinct religious practice from voodoo in the United States. Vaudou is a traditional religion practiced in Haiti, stemming from African beliefs and traditions.
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Description
Explore the unique influences of African traditions on the style of spirituals, including elements like call and response, polyrhythms, and syncopation. Understand how these musical forms expressed the joys and sorrows of Afro-American religion. Delve into the fusion of African styles with European hymnody, leading to a new cultural expression.
