The Aspen Institute will host its annual spring concert, taking a historical look at Gospel music on Sunday, April 7, at 3:00 PM at the Inn at River House on the Institute’s Wye River campus off Carmichael Road in Queenstown. The event will feature Richard and Leroy Potter and the Covenant Choir, a community choral group from the Bay One Hundred Area that includes choir members from Episcopal, Methodist and Catholic churches.
This powerful and insightful program will examine historical accounts of the American Negro spiritual and the various movements that led to Gospel music. The concert will be part historical narrative delivered by Richard Potter and part musical renderings of the various eras in the history of Gospel music.
“It is a moving experience to go from how it all began to present day Gospel music,” Richard said. “It will educate you, and your soul will be moved.”
The concert begins by exploring the roots of the Negro spiritual, including how it was used in the Underground Railroad and what role the Fisk Jubilee Singers played in its popularization. Then, it looks at how musicians such as Thomas Dorsey, considered the father of black Gospel music, helped transform the Negro spiritual into what we consider today to be traditional black Gospel music.
Finally, Richard examines present day Gospel music, where soloists are more prevalent and the vocalists have crossed racial lines. “The Covenant Choir is a testament to how present-day Gospel music has crossed racial lines,” said Richard, noting that the choir is a racially diverse group of singers from both black and white churches.
The recital is sponsored by the Aspen Wye Fellows and the Friends of Wye, support groups of the Aspen Institute.The concert is free with a limited number of seats available to the general public. Seats may be reserved by calling Susan Langfitt at 410-820-5375. To learn more about the Aspen Wye Fellows Program, which features monthly discussions with diplomats, influential policymakers and world thought leaders, contact Susan Langfitt at [email protected] or by calling 410-820-5375.
The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, DC Its mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues. The Institute is based in Washington, DC; Aspen, CO; and on the Wye River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. It also has offices in New York City and an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.
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