Sorrow Songs

Musical Engagement Topic: There are two recordings of the spiritual “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” in this chapter. Describe each one in lyrical and musical terms. How are they alike and how are they different? Pick two more recordings from the three I have added and do the same thing. How does each arrangement create a balance between the simple folk melody and the additional musical resources. In what way do you think each arrangement is faithful to the traditional melody, or to the cultural tradition from which it is derived? Which one do you think is most musically expressive, and why?