Sacred Songs a capella - Spiritual Journey

‘Spiritual Journey’ is a complete work, written and arranged for Black Voices by Ken Burton. ‘Spiritual Journey’ is as it states – a suite of songs mapping the journey of ‘The Spirituals’.

It begins with a taste of Africa , the elements which survived and permeated the form including improvisation, call & response and cross rhythms.

The Middle Passage - where ethnic groups were separated and communicated in moans, groans & chants; the earliest spirituals sung on arrival in the Americas (including the Caribbean); the ‘Sorrow Songs’ (spirituals which speak about the situation & hope of freedom); the 'reaction' songs, spirituals which sometimes contain hidden and coded messages about the means of escape. It is interesting to note that words and phrases such as ‘Lord’, ‘Jesus’, ‘Heaven’, ‘Crossing Over Jordan’ were often used in spirituals synonymously meaning freedom.

The conclusion of the work contains ‘Freedom and Celebration’ songs.