II
INTRODUCTION.
by the musical composer as they were sung in her
hearing. This composer was once a slave, %and is well
acquainted with all the characteristics of the music
and the songs prevalent in the religious meetings of
the colored people. Dr. Taylor's wife, who, as the
Preface indicates, has been an efficient assistant, was
likewise once a slave. The compiler has enjoyed
special advantages. Having been constantly associated
from childhood with the people of his race, both in
social and Church life, he has had the best of oppor¬
tunities for perfect familiarity, by observation and
practice, with the usages, music, and language of their
religious worship under a great variety of circum¬
stances.
The songs in this volume are of two classes. The
first class comprises those which the compiler desig¬
nates as " Revival Songs." These were sung in the
white congregations of the South,-and were found in
old religious song-books, which, though published by
individual enterprise rather than upon denominational
authority, had considerable circulation. These stirring
devotional hymns, with their well adapted tunes, the
colored people attendant upon the white congregations
memorized, loved, and adopted. Not being able to
read, and, therefore, unable to correct their recollec¬
tions by reference to the printed page, they often con¬
fused both the sense and the verses — thus bringing
these " revival songs" of their adoption to partake
more or less of the character of those which were en¬
tirely of their own invention. These hymns were ob¬
tained, the compiler informs us, from his mother, a
most devout Christian woman, who was set free, with
many others, just before the time of her son's birth.
The songs of the oth<jr class, the " Plantation Melo¬
dies," originated with the colored people themselves,
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