Three Fantasies on African American Songs for String Quartet - I Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (Recording)

Authors

Gary Smart, University of North FloridaFollow

Document Type

Audio

Publication Date

2019

Abstract

The first movement is based on the spiritual “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” composed in the 1860s by Wallis Willis, a Choctaw freedman, and made famous shortly thereafter by the Fisk Jubilee Singers. I alternate between tonal statements of the theme and more abstract restatements. In the middle of the movement, the tempo quickens and a freely brilliant, albeit hushed toccata brings the movement to a close.

Comments

Score for Three Fantasies on African American Songs for string quartet is available here: https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/amus_facpub/44/

Recording of Three Fantasies on African American Songs for string quartet - II Black Woman is available here: https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/amus_facpub/42/

Recording of Three Fantasies on African American Songs for string quartet - III Shortening Bread is available here: https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/amus_facpub/41/

Streaming Media

Recommended Citation

Smart, Gary, "Three Fantasies on African American Songs for String Quartet - I Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (Recording)" (2019). Music Faculty Research and Scholarship. 43.
https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/amus_facpub/43