Origins of Gospel Music
Gospel music takes its name from the books of the New Testament. Meaning "good news," the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and their references to God's mercy and goodness are common themes in gospel music. It is a style of music that has offered hope to many people in difficult circumstances throughout the decades, and while its thematic content remains consistent, the music is continuing to develop.
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White Gospel
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White gospel music, also known as Country or Southern gospel, was starting to be sung by the late 19th century by White American evangelists. By the 1930s its popularity had grown thanks to recordings and radio performances by artists such as the Carter Family and the traveling evangelist, Billy Graham.
Black Gospel
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Inspiration for black gospel music came from the hymns that African-American slaves would hear at their masters' church services. These hymns and readings found their way into the work and spiritual music of the slaves, and the repetitive nature of these styles helped those who were unable to read to participate in Christian worship.
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Traditional
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Traditional gospel music is musically simple, utilizing mainly the primary chords of a scale. Triad chords feature heavily, as do seventh chords. Though not as sonically rich or colorful as contemporary gospel music, traditional gospel has a strong, direct musical style that is preferred by many.
Contemporary
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The style of contemporary gospel music is far more complex than traditional gospel. Many more chords are used, such as ninths, elevenths and thirteenths, which help make the sound modern and unique. These chords are also often played with different voicings, which advanced musicians use to alter the tone of a common chord and make it contemporary.
Call and Response
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Call and response is a common musical pattern where a vocal phrase is answered or commented on by a second phrase. Gospel music uses this to reinforce religious belief, and worshippers are expected to agree verbally when they identify with a song's lyrical content. This serves to encourage both the singer's performance and the listener, who may need empowering to overcome a difficult situation.
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