[Note: With the updates to The Spirituals Database, the database links below are no longer valid–the video links still work. The database links will be fixed as time permits (in fact, it’s going to be a giant mess for a while since I’m going to do a bit of redesign, too). Those fixed are those with video images. Sorry for any inconvenience.]
Videos created from a century of recordings of (often) rare performances of Negro spirituals composed for concert presentation. Click on the triple lines in the upper left corner of the video to see and select from the complete list of available videos. A complete list of the videos is also below.
Oh, Glory Hall Johnson, composer Robert McFerrin, baritone Spirituals Database Entry |
O Freedom Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, composer George Shirley, tenor Spirituals Database Entry |
Nobody Knows de Trouble I’ve Seen Harry T. Burleigh, composer William Warfield, bass-baritone Spirituals Database Entry |
There’s A Man Going Round Traditional Jessye Norman, soprano Spirituals Database Entry |
I Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray Composer not identified Lawrence Winters, baritone Spirituals Database Entry |
Give Me Jesus Hall Johnson, composer Vinson Cole, tenor Spirituals Database Entry |
Prepare Me One Body ; Three Wise Men to Jerusalem Came (Sister Mary Had-a but One Child) ; Lit’l Boy ; Live-a-Humble ; He Raised Poor Lazarus ; You Hear the Lambs a-Cryin’ ; Plenty Good Room (from The Life of Christ) Roland Hayes, composer Roland Hayes, tenor Spirituals Database Entry |
One of You Shall Betray Me ; Who Betrayed My Lord? ; They Led My Lord Away ; He Never Said a Mumberlin’ Word ; Did You Hear When Jesus Rose? ; Were You There? (from: The Life of Christ) Roland Hayes, composer Roland Hayes, tenor Spirituals Database Entry |
Medley: Roll de old Chariot — Mary Had a Baby, Yes Lord — Swing Low, Sweet Chariot — Heav’n, Heav’n (I Got a Robe) Composer not identified Paul Robeson, bass-baritone Spirituals Database Entry |
Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray Composer not identified Evelyn Dove, soprano Spirituals Database Entry |
Oh, What a Beautiful City Edward Boatner, composer Vinson Cole, tenor Spirituals Database Entry |
He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands Margaret Bonds, composer Leontyne Price, soprano Spirituals Database Entry |
City Called Heaven Hall Johnson, composer Martina Arroyo, soprano Spirituals Database Entry |
Steal Away McHenry Boatwright, composer McHenry Boatwright, bass-baritone Spirituals Database Entry |
Witness Hall Johnson, composer Todd Duncan, baritone Spirituals Database Entry |
Goin’ Shout All Over God’s Heaven Composer not identified Jules Bledsoe, baritone Spirituals Database Entry |
He Never Said a Mumberlin’ Word Roland Hayes, composer Charles Holland, tenor Spirituals Database Entry |
Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child Damien Sneed, composer Lawrence Brownlee, tenor Spirituals Database Entry |
Here’s One William Grant Still, composer Florence Quivar, mezzo-soprano Spirituals Database Entry |
God Is a God Wendell Whalum, composer Kenneth Overton, baritone Spirituals Database Entry |
On My Journey Now Edward Boatner, composer Ruby Elzy, soprano Spirituals Database Entry |
Were You There Composer not identified Betty Allen, mezzo-soprano Spirituals Database Entry |
Great Day Thomas Kerr, Jr., composer Jessye Norman, soprano Spirituals Database Entry |
I Want to Die Easy Hale Smith, composer Donnie Ray Albert, baritone Spirituals Database Entry |
I’m a Poor Little Orphan in This World! Composer not identified Shirley Verrett, mezzo-soprano Spirituals Database Entry |
My Lord, what a mornin’ Harry T. Burleigh, composer Roberta Alexander, soprano Spirituals Database Entry |
Let Us Break Bread Together William Lawrence, composer Robert McFerrin, baritone Spirituals Database Entry |
Deep River Harry T. Burleigh, composer William Warfield, bass-baritone Spirituals Database Entry |
I’m So Glad Trouble Don’t Last Alway R. Nathaniel Dett, composer Carroll Clark, baritone Spirituals Database Entry |
Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child Harry T. Burleigh, composer Anne Wiggins Brown, soprano Spirituals Database Entry |
Deep River Harry T. Burleigh, composer Robert McFerrin, baritone Spirituals Database Entry |
God Is a God Wendell Whalum, composer Kenneth Overton, baritone Spirituals Database Entry |
Go Down Moses Robert Owens, composer Oral Moses, bass-baritone Spirituals Database Entry |
Calvary Medley Shelton E. Kilby, III, composer Barbara Conrad, mezzo-soprano Spirituals Database Entry |
Roll, Jerd’n, Roll Hall Johnson, composer Todd Duncan, baritone Spirituals Database Entry |
Let Us Break Bread Together McHenry Boatwright, composer McHenry Boatwright, bass-baritone Spirituals Database Entry |
Deep River Harry T. Burleigh, composer William Warfield, bass-baritone, baritone Spirituals Database Entry |
Who’ll Be a Witness for My Lord J. Rosamond Johnson, composer Kenneth Spencer, bass-baritone Spirituals Database Entry |
Honor, Honor/Ride on, King Jesus Composer not identified Hope Foye, soprano Spirituals Database Entry |
This Little Light of Mine/Deep River (from Symphonic Spirituals) Hale Smith/Frederick Tillis, composer William Brown, tenor Spirituals Database Entry |
Swing Low Sweet Chariot/Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen/Ezekiel Saw a Wheel Traditional Bayard Rustin, tenor Spirituals Database Entry |
Po’ Mourner’s Got a Home at Las’ (from A Cycle of Six Negro Spirituals for Bass (Baritone) and Piano) Robert Owens, composer Oral Moses, bass-baritone Spirituals Database Entry |
More videos will be added as they are created.Randye (a.k.a. Divaslair)
| By an’ By | Harry T. Burleigh | Roland Hayes, tenor | Spirituals Database Entry |
| Sweet little Jesus Boy | Robert MacGimsey | Jessye Norman, soprano | Spirituals Database Entry |
| Round about de mountain | Roland Hayes | Inez Matthews, mezzo-soprano | Spirituals Database Entry |
| Guide My Feet | Jacqueline Hairston | Louise Toppin, soprano | Spirituals Database Entry |
| This Little Light o’ Mine | John Wesley Work III | Kevin Maynor, bass | Spirituals Database Entry |
| Glory, Glory, Hallelujah | Lena McLin | Mark Rucker, baritone | Spirituals Database Entry |
| Is There Anybody Here | Undine Smith Moore | Pamela Dillard, mezzo-soprano | Spirituals Database Entry |
| Gospel Blues (from Lyric Suite) | Robert L. Morris | Calesta “Callie” Day, soprano | Spirituals Database Entry |
| Oh, Glory | Evelyn Simpson-Curenton | Kathleen Battle, soprano | Spirituals Database Entry |
| Crucifixion | William Arms Fisher | Roland Hayes, tenor | Spirituals Database Entry |
| Standin’ in de Need o’ Prayer | John C. Payne | John C. Payne, baritone | Spirituals Database Entry |
| Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray | Harry T. Burleigh | Martina Arroyo, soprano | Spirituals Database Entry |
| Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit | Shawn Okepebholo | Will Liverman, baritone | Spirituals Database Entry |
| He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands | Hamilton Forrest | Martina Arroyo, soprano | Spirituals Database Entry |
| City Called Heaven | Edward Boatner | Mattiwilda Dobbs, soprano | Spirituals Database Entry |
| Go Down Moses | Florence Price | Richard Heard, tenor | Spirituals Database Entry |
| Sweet Little Jesus Boy | Robert MacGimsey | Carol Brice, contralto | Spirituals Database Entry |
| City Called Heaven | Composer not identified | Kenneth Spencer, bass-baritone | Spirituals Database Entry |
| All God’s Chillin Got Wings | John Rosamond Johnson | Todd Duncan, baritone | Spirituals Database Entry |
| Go Down Moses | Harry T. Burleigh | Harry T. Burleigh, baritone | Spirituals Database Entry |
| Toccata (Ride On King Jesus) (from Cantata) | John D. Carter | Ray Wade, Jr., tenor | Spirituals Database Entry |
| Goin’ to Ride up in de Chariot | [Lawrence Brown] | Kenneth Spencer, bass-baritone | Spirituals Database Entry |
| Hear de Lambs a-Cryin’ (from The Life of Christ) | Roland Hayes | Charles Holland, tenor | Spirituals Database Entry |
| Were You There | Harry T. Burleigh | Sherrill Milnes, baritone | Spirituals Database Entry |
| There’s a Man Goin’ Roun’ Takin’ Names-Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho | Composer not identified | Kenneth Spencer, baritone | Spirituals Database Entry |
| Hear de Lam’s a-Cryin’ | Lawrence Brown | Kenneth Spencer, baritone | Spirituals Database Entry |
| Let Us Break Bread Together | Composer not identified | Adele Addison, soprano | Spirituals Database Entry |
| There Is a Balm in Gilead | Traditional | Bayard Rustin, tenor | Spirituals Database Entry |
| Hold on | Hall Johnson | Anne Wiggins Brown, soprano | Spirituals Database Entry |
| Steal Away | Traditional | Adele Addison, soprano | Spirituals Database Entry |
| Deep River | Harry T. Burleigh | Carroll Clark, baritone | Spirituals Database Entry |
| City Called Heaven | Hall Johnson | Anne Wiggins Brown, soprano | Spirituals Database Entry |
| His Name So Sweet | Hall Johnson | Anne Wiggins Brown, soprano | Spirituals Database Entry |
| Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child-Hold on! | Composer not identified | Hope Foye, soprano | Spirituals Database Entry |
| De Gospel Train | Harry T. Burleigh | William Warfield, bass-baritone | Spirituals Database Entry |
| My Lord What a Mornin’ | Harry T. Burleigh | William Warfield, bass-baritone | Spirituals Database Entry |
| Go Down, Moses | Harry T. Burleigh | William Warfield, bass-baritone | Spirituals Database Entry |
| Bye and Bye | Lawrence Brown | Paul Robeson, baritone; Lawrence Brown, tenor | Spirituals Database Entry |
| Deep River | Harry T. Burleigh | Oscar Seagle, baritone | Spirituals Database Entry |
| My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord | Florence Price | Marian Anderson, contralto | Spirituals Database Entry |
| Were You There | Roland Hayes | Roland Hayes, tenor | Spirituals Database Entry |
| City Called Heaven | Composer not identified | Ethel Ayler, soprano | Spirituals Database Entry |