Composer

:

William Levi Dawson

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Average_duration

:

4:41

"There Is A Balm In Gilead" is a traditional African American spiritual that has been arranged and composed by many musicians over the years. However, the most famous arrangement of this spiritual was composed by William Levi Dawson in 1956. Dawson was an African American composer, arranger, and conductor who was born in Alabama in 1899 and died in 1990. Dawson's arrangement of "There Is A Balm In Gilead" was premiered by the Tuskegee Institute Choir in 1956. The Tuskegee Institute Choir was a renowned African American choir that was founded by Booker T. Washington in 1881. Dawson was the conductor of the choir from 1931 to 1956, and during his tenure, he transformed the choir into one of the most respected choral ensembles in the world. Dawson's arrangement of "There Is A Balm In Gilead" is a four-part choral setting that features a soloist singing the opening line of each verse. The piece is in a slow, mournful tempo, and the harmonies are rich and complex. The lyrics of the spiritual speak of the healing power of God and the hope that can be found in difficult times. The first movement of Dawson's arrangement begins with a soloist singing the opening line of the spiritual, "There is a balm in Gilead, to make the wounded whole." The choir then enters with a rich, four-part harmony that sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The second movement features a soloist singing the second verse of the spiritual, "If you cannot preach like Peter, if you cannot pray like Paul." The choir then enters with a lush, harmonized response that emphasizes the message of the verse. The third movement features a soloist singing the third verse of the spiritual, "Sometimes I feel discouraged, and think my work's in vain." The choir then enters with a powerful, harmonized response that provides comfort and hope to the listener. The final movement features a soloist singing the fourth and final verse of the spiritual, "But when I get to heaven, gonna sing and shout." The choir then enters with a triumphant, harmonized response that celebrates the hope and joy that can be found in God. Overall, Dawson's arrangement of "There Is A Balm In Gilead" is a powerful and moving piece of music that speaks to the resilience and hope of the African American community. Its rich harmonies and complex arrangements have made it a staple of choral repertoire and a testament to the enduring power of spiritual music.

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