Thursday, February 8, 2001
Lawrence Eagle-Tribune

Amen!

Celeste Brito (left), senior soprano for the Lawrence High Girls' and Boys' Ensemble, performs a
solo during a gospel number with Dr. Horace Clarence Boyer (seated) and combined choruses
from the area as part of the History of Gospel Music performance at the Rogers Center for the
Arts on the Merrimack College campus in North Andover last night.

Singing black history's praises

By Bryon Rivers
Eagle-Tribune Writer

Minus the tent and pulpit, Merrimack College's Rogers Center for the Arts last night felt more like an old-time revival meeting than a concert hall.

As part of a series of programs celebrating black history month, African-American music performer and scholar, Dr. Horace Clarence Boyer, and the regional chorus, The New England Classical Singers, presented a program titled "The Old Ship of Zion: A History of Gospel Music."

Dr. Boyer, a dynamic speaker and vocalist who is professor emeritus of music theory and African-American music at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, delivered a history lesson that took his mostly white audience through the various stages of black gospel music -- from the early years when slaves repeated "lining hymns" (a call and answer type of singing) to the 20th century when gospel tunes "are being used to sell McDonald's hamburgers."

"African-American gospel is, without a doubt, the most arresting music of the last half of the 20th century," said Dr. Boyer.

Sometimes singing, sometimes speaking, other times dancing and swaying, Dr. Boyer taught and demonstrated how slaves of the 18th and 19th centuries would sing counting songs to educate their children and "sorrow songs," such as "Swing Low Sweet Chariot," to express their emotions. And how, when rumors of freedom begin circulating, courtesy of President Lincoln, the mood changed from sorrow to "jubilee."

Throughout the evening, he kept the crowd entertained with his quick wit, mighty vocals and expert piano playing.

Directed by Reading's David Hodgkins (a former student of Dr. Boyer), the 40-plus member Classical Singers -- a group better acquainted with singing Shubert than shouting praises -- emphasized the major points of Dr. Boyer's presentation with beautiful renditions of tunes such as the heartfelt "Were You There?'' the rousing "Ain' a That Good News" and the ubiquitous "Precious Lord," which Dr. Boyer explained is, "second only to 'Amazing Grace' " in the realm of Christian music.

"To have the New England Classical Singers recognize African-American music during this month is great thing," said Dr. Boyer.

To close out the evening, choirs from Andover, North Andover, Lawrence and Lynnfield high schools joined Dr. Boyer and the Classical Singers to perform Dr. Boyer's own "It's My Desire" and then lead the audience in a sing along.

"Amen!" said Dr. Boyer, "Did you feel some of that joy?"