Review of When the Spirit Says Sing!

Post by **Diana Lowery** » 02 Apr 2025, 07:32

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "When the Spirit Says Sing!" by Truuke M. Ameigh.]

5 out of 5 stars

Share This Review

When the Spirit Says Sing! has an appealing, alliterative title but a depressing cover. I selected the book based on the subtitle: A Brief History of African Slave Songs in the Americas. My intentions were to pass the book along to my daughter, a children's choir director. I did not anticipate how much joy the book would also bring to me.

Truuke M. Ameigh's experiences in the music field give credibility to her comments. I was surprised to learn that many of the songs I sang as a child are considered African slave songs. I like that she included the lyrics and explained their meaning. The suggested arrangements for performance purposes will be helpful to many.

My favorite chapter was "Artists Who Helped Popularize the Spiritual." Harry Belafonte, Marian Anderson, and Mahalia Jackson are a few singers who are covered in this chapter and whose contributions are explained. I found myself humming along to some of the songs. I was also surprised to learn that many of the spirituals had secret codes or masks and were sometimes used to call for secret meetups.

The only thing I disliked about the book was the cover, but it does send a powerful message about the sorrow and sadness that these songs evoke. I enjoyed learning the history and evolution of the songs the author included. I also enjoyed the flawless editing in this textbook. I found no errors. My rating is five out of five.

I would recommend this book to music educators. It would be a useful addition to their library. The ability to have a specific arrangement chosen for a performance would save a lot of time. I like that the author acknowledges her high school music teacher at the beginning of the book. Ameigh states that her goal was to "bring recognition of a rich heritage to people everywhere." I think she has accomplished that with this book.

******
When the Spirit Says Sing!
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Post by **Stephen Christopher 1** » 03 Apr 2025, 20:22

I'm not a music teacher, but I am keen to know which songs I've known since a child were actually African slave songs. I want to read this book just to find that out. Thanks so much for introducing this book to everyone.

Post by **Diana Lowery** » 04 Apr 2025, 10:52

Stephen Christopher 1 wrote: ↑03 Apr 2025, 20:22 I'm not a music teacher, but I am keen to know which songs I've known since a child were actually African slave songs. I want to read this book just to find that out. Thanks so much for introducing this book to everyone.

Thank you Stephen. I appreciate your comment.

Post by **Priya Murugesan** » 04 Apr 2025, 10:59

I love music but have no idea about African slave songs. I believe this book would enlighten me about that. Thanks for your wonderful review!

Post by **Diana Lowery** » 05 Apr 2025, 08:14

Priya Murugesan wrote: ↑04 Apr 2025, 10:59 I love music but have no idea about African slave songs. I believe this book would enlighten me about that. Thanks for your wonderful review!

I appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment, Priya.