Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table'

Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table'
From: blinddrunkal
Date: 23 Sep 12 - 12:39 PM

I have a version by "The Florida Normal and Industrial Institute Quartette" dating from 1922!

Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table'
From: blinddrunkal
Date: 23 Sep 12 - 12:42 PM

p.s. I had a go at it myself too!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pG-YUbSHPtQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pG-YUbSHPtQ

Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table'
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Aug 14 - 03:27 PM

copyright??

Subject: RE: Origins: Gospel song 'The Welcome Table'
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Nov 25 - 10:39 AM

About early gospel recordings: Not Fisk, but in fact the first instance of "Welcome Table" being published at all under that title was the 1922 recording of the Florida Normal and Industrial Institute Quartette. It's on YouTube. Their music director was J. Rosamund Johnson, who 22 years earlier had composed the music of "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing."

You'll note that this first evidence of "Welcome Table" having a particular tune was a couple two three generations after emancipation. It's my understanding that all the traditional lines in the versions of this song were essentially zipper lines, lifted from previous spirituals, just as the civil rights people added slogans of their own. I suspect "Welcome Table" was cobbled together by Johnson with the new title and his own music, incorporating traditional elements. But he's not credited.

Also, interestingly, the 1922 recording says "eat" at the table, not "sit." Someone early on substituted "sit," as it works better poetically.