First published in 1867, this landmark book represented the first systematic effort to collect and preserve the songs sung by the plantation slaves of the Old South. To ensure authenticity, the editors notated most of the melodies and words directly from the singers themselves. The result was a rare musical treasury containing complete music and lyrics for over 130 songs, arranged by geographical region. Among them are: Roll, Jordan, Roll; Jehovah, Hallelujah; I hear from Heaven to-day; Michael, row the boat ashore; Turn sinner, turn O; Nobody knows the trouble I've had; No Man can hinder me; Heave away; Charleston Gals; I'm gwine to Alabamy; I want to die like-a Lazarus die; Belle Layotte; On to Glory Jacob's Ladder; My Father, how long?; Musieu Bainjo; Lean on the Lord's side; God got plenty o' room. The book presents the melody lone and all the known verses to each song. The editors also include directions for singing, along with a commentary on each song's history, its possible variations, what some of its key references mean and other pertinent details. A new preface to the Dover edition by Harold Courlander appraises the book's importance in American musical and cultural history.

Music and some highly musical people: containing brief chapters on I. A description of music. II. The music of nature. III. A glance at the history of music. IV. The power, beauty, and uses of music. Following which are given sketches of the lives of remarkable musicians of the colored race. With portraits, and an appendix containing copies of music composed by colored men, by James M. Trotter.

An outline of African-American music at the time, including folk, popular, and classical. It is divided into topical sections with discussion questions, reading references, and record illustrations (where possible) at the end of each section.

An extensive resource beginning with a discussion of African music and continuing with discussions of folk, popular, and classical performers and composers. Numerous musical and pictorial illustrations are provided.

"The path the slave took to 'citizenship' is what I want to look at. And I make my analogy through the slave citizen's music -- through the music that is most closely associated with him: blues and a later, but parallel development, jazz... [If] the Negro represents, or is symbolic of, something in and about the nature of American culture, this certainly should be revealed by his characteristic music." So says Amiri Baraka in the Introduction to Blues People, his classic work on the place of jazz and blues in American social, musical, economic, and cultural history. From the music of African slaves in the United States through the music scene of the 1960's, Baraka traces the influence of what he calls "negro music" on white America -- not only in the context of music and pop culture but also in terms of the values and perspectives passed on through the music. In tracing the music, he brilliantly illuminates the influence of African Americans on American culture and history.

This text provides comprehensive coverage of black American music, from the arrival of the first Africans in the English colonies to contemporary developments in African-American history. The book draws on authentic documents, from colonial times to the present, to illuminate the history of black music.

Awarded both the Chicago Folklore Prize and the Simkins Prize of the Southern Historical Association.
From the plaintive tunes of woe sung by exiled kings and queens of Africa to the spirited worksongs and "shouts" of freedmen, in Sinful Tunes and Spirituals Dena J. Epstein traces the course of early black folk music in all its guises. (description from Google Books)

"...anthology of essays by educators, musicians, composers, performers, and prominent figures."
"Much of the information included in this book was presented as a seminar, Black Music in College and University Curricula, held at Indiana University from June 18 to 21, 1969."

A collection of essays listed below:
-Black music in the pre-college curriculum /​ Marian Brown, Pearl Williams Jones, and Robert H. Klotman
-Black music in the undergraduate curriculum /​ Johnnie V. Lee ... [et al.]
-The composer and his relationship to society /​ T. J. Anderson ... [et al.]
-The black composer discusses his music /​ T. J. Anderson ... [et al.]
-The social role of jazz /​ Richard Abrams, David N. Baker and Charles Ellison
-Jazz in the curriculum /​ Cannonball Adderley, Dorothy Ashby, and Robert H. Klotman
-The conflict between foreign and traditional culture in Nigeria /​ Samuel Akpabot
-Journalism, black music, and dance /​ Earl Calloway and Carole Y. Johnson
-A periodization of black music history /​ David N. Baker
-Art music of the blacks in the nineteenth century /​ Geneva Handy Southall
-Soul music /​ Phyl Garland
-Gospel music /​ Thomas A. Dorsey
-Information sources /​ Dominique-René de Lerma, Frank Gillis, and Don Malin
-Field work in African music /​ John Blacking
Appendices: Black elements in European music : a sample listing ; Black artists in music and dance available for booking ; Black music in college history texts ; List of works publicly performed.

A dated, but historically significant, resource guide for music educators.

The primary purpose of The Black Perspective in Music is to provide an opportunity for the free expression of ideas and opinions by persons interested in the Black-American and African performing arts, particularly from the creative point of view. Regular features include articles by musicologists, ethnomusicologists, historians, composers, and performing artists; interviews with well-known personalities in the arts; listings of new books, music, musicals, films, and recordings; announcements of special events (festivals, conferences, premiere performances, symposia), and periodic surveys of bibliographic materials. The Black Perspective in Music was published by the Foundation for Research in the Afro-American Creative Arts.

Part of the series "The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Black Music"
v. 1. Reference materials.--v. 2. Afro-American idioms.--v. 3. Geographical studies.--v. 4. Theory, education, and related studies.

"The stimulus this handsomely produced volume will provide to research and teaching may well surpass that offered by Dr. Southern's earlier studies. This major accomplishment belongs in the libraries of all individuals and institutions interested in any aspect of American music." Ethnomusiciology

A comprehensive bibliography of black music resources, including references to discographic and iconographic sources, as well as music anthologies, repositories, and archives.

The Black Music Research Newsletter was published semi-annually from 1977 to 1987 to promote and encourage scholarship and cultural activity in black American music and black music worldwide. It was founded by Samuel A. Floyd and originally published at the Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Online access can be found at the link directly below.

Begun in 1980, Black Music Research Journal is published in the spring and fall of each year and includes articles about the philosophy, aesthetics, history, and criticism of black music. BMRJ is an official journal of the Center for Black Music Research. Online access can be found at the link directly below.

"This exceptional work provides information on composers of African heritage from around the world during the last 300 years. The 185 signed essays, most of which are accompanied by full-page portraits, are substantial in their coverage and analysis. Lists of compositions by genre, discographies, and printed works are also included. Those wanting further information will find the extensive bibliographies and inclusion of major archival holdings indispensable. Although all music genres are embraced, nearly half of the 185 entries are on classical composers who have seldom received significant public notice or mention in other reference sources. This is a truly outstanding source that libraries will not want to do without."--"Outstanding reference sources 2000", American Libraries, May 2000. Comp. by the Reference Sources Committee, RUSA, ALA.

An interdisciplinary journal on African-American culture and the arts. Online access can be found at the link directly below.