St. Lawrence University and the Ken Okoth ’01 Black American Music Project will welcome Cory Hunter to campus for an interactive workshop titled “The Music of the Black Church” on Friday, February 27, at 7 p.m. in the Peterson-Kermani Performance Hall.
What is it that makes the sound of the Black church unique? This presentation will examine Black American spirituals as an expressive lens to understand the foundational stylistic techniques of Black sacred music. We will explore the sociohistorical circumstances surrounding the emergence of the music to understand the contextual backdrop that gave rise to the sound of the spirituals. We will also sing various spiritual songs together and engage in a range of percussive exercises to underscore the aesthetic techniques that inform Black sacred music. In doing so, we will create an immersive experience that reinforces the transcendent and communal power of Black spirituals.