Jerry,

Great play on words:

"Nobody knows de troubles obscene."

****

As to singing spirituals in real or supposedly Southern African American dialect, I'm not been a frequent churchgoer for a while now..But my daughter is, and most of my extended family is. As a matter of fact, my brother has been the Minister of Music for a number of Black Baptist churches in New Jersey...

All of this to say, that I decided to call my mother & my brother {from Atlantic City, New Jeresey} and ask my daughter {in Pittsburh, PA} about the frequency that spirituals are sung in church, and how they are sung {with or without dialect}.

Based on my experience, and the experiences of these family members, I believe that spirituals are rarely sung in African American churches nowadays. Gospel is by far the religious music of choice..

I'm not saying that this is good or bad. I'm saying that this appears to be the case.

I also don't feel that I am incorrect in saying that in the cities that I am most familiar with {in Pittsburgh area, and Southern & nothern New Jersey} the congregations would NEVER sing spirituals in that {or any other dialect}. And if a choir did, IMO, they wouldn't be well received by that congregation.

For the historical record, I understand that we have to preserve these artifacts with their original dialect. But sing them that way-NOT ME. NEVER.


Azizi