André J Thomas: Where gospel music started

LSO Associate Artist André J Thomas explains the roots of American gospel music, and how the new form of symphonic gospel music came about.

‘Gospel is about spreading the good news; it’s religious music. Gospel started with the songs of enslaved people, which are called spirituals and are often focused on Old Testament stories such as Moses leading the slaves out of Egypt,’ he explains. ‘Then a second type of spiritual was emerged, which was about Jesus; the third was about personal experience – you can tell those ones because they’re very individualised – for example, Swing Low Sweet Chariot, and Steal Away to Jesus.

Symphonic gospel music came about because the music needed to be shared in a larger form and outside of a church setting. It is called ‘symphonic gospel music’ simply because it involves the orchestra. This brings gospel music to a wider market of people rather than in the church only. It started in the United States at colleges and universities and then became regular repertoire for choral ensembles and was written so people who were not in the form could now participate.’

‘When you sing this music, you’ve got to communicate. It’s about ministering to the soul.’

Dr André J Thomas, LSO Associate Artist and Professor of Choral Music Education at Florida State University, says he appreciates it when people tell him gospel music speaks to them. ‘What that says is: do you have to be Black for it to speak to you? Music is a common language – we don’t have to become Black to approach this music, but we have to understand the Black experience. We have to understand that it is personal, it’s in your face, it’s to you, God and the people that you’re ministering to. You have to understand that. When you sing this music, you’ve got to communicate. It’s about ministering to the soul.’

From an interview with James Drury, which originally appeared in the Barbican Guide May 2022