Spirits That Dwell in Deep Woods: The Prayer and Praise Hymns of the Black Religious Experience

Revealing the fascinating body of hymnal work that flourished in Southern communities populated by the children of slaves between 1885 and 1925, this stirring collection of spiritual songs sheds light on a vanished era. While these hymns owe much to their rural Southern origin, they are distinct from traditional gospel, borrowing heavily from the oral storytelling tradition of the region and possessing a rousing, repetitive nature. Twenty-four hymns from this underappreciated era in African American music are included, along with an extensive analysis of each work, providing a rare look into a pivotal generation of church music.

Author Biography: Wyatt Tee Walker is the senior minister of the Canaan Baptist Church of Christ in New York's Harlem community. He is a theologian, author, human rights activist, urbanologist, and international peace advocate. He lives in New York City. James Abbington is an associate professor of music at Shaw University and the author of Let Mt. Zion Rejoice. He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. Gardner C. Taylor is a renowned preacher and civil rights educator. He lives in New York City.