How did this African-American spiritual become a Christmas classic? Learn!
John Wesley Work II (1873-1923) was a prominent African American composer, educator, and musicologist known for his contributions to preserving and promoting African American spirituals and folk music. Here are some interesting facts about him and his work:
Early Life and Education: John Wesley Work II was born on August 6, 1873, in Nashville, Tennessee, into a family with a strong musical tradition. He attended Fisk University, a historically black college in Nashville, where he studied music and became deeply interested in preserving African American folk music.
Collection of Spirituals: Work is perhaps best known for his efforts to collect and preserve African American spirituals. He traveled throughout the South, collecting and transcribing these songs to ensure they were not lost to history.
Collaboration with Frederick J. Loudin: Work collaborated with Frederick J. Loudin, a prominent African American choral conductor, to form a group known as the Fisk Jubilee Singers Quartet. They toured extensively and introduced African American spirituals to audiences in the United States and around the world.
Publications: Work published several collections of spirituals and folk songs, including "New Jubilee Songs as Sung by the Fisk Jubilee Singers" (1901) and "Folk Song of the American Negro" (1907). These collections helped to document and popularize African American music.
"Go Tell It on the Mountain": One of Work's most famous arrangements is the Christmas spiritual "Go Tell It on the Mountain." He included this song in his collections, and it has since become a beloved holiday classic, recorded by numerous artists over the years.
Scholarly Contributions: Work was not only a performer and arranger but also a scholar. He published articles and essays on African American music and its history, contributing to the academic understanding of the subject.
Legacy: John Wesley Work II's work played a crucial role in preserving African American spirituals and promoting African American contributions to American music. His collections and arrangements continue to be studied and performed today.
Family Legacy: The Work family's musical legacy continued through subsequent generations. John Wesley Work III, his son, was also a noted scholar and composer, carrying on his father's work in preserving and promoting African American music.
John Wesley Work II's dedication to preserving and sharing African American spirituals and folk music had a profound impact on the appreciation and understanding of this important cultural heritage. His contributions remain significant in the study of African American music history.