Tampa Bay's renowned Spirtitual Renaissance Singers

Concert of Negro Spirituals

Coming to St. Matthew's on Sunday, March 7

Sponsored by St. Augustine's

     On Sunday, March 7th, Tampa Bay's renowned Spiritual Renaissance Singers will present an afternoon of authentic music that often expresses grave sorrow and intense joy within the same piece.
     These are slave songs of faith expressing a belief that they will survive and win their freedom.
     Although this 4 pm celebration will be held at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church (738 Pinellas Point Drive South in St. Petersburg), it is being sponsored by St. Augustine's Episcopal Parish.
     "St. Augustine's is an ambitious small parish that is undertaking new ventures," says the Priest-in-Charge, Fr. Robin Whitlock. "And by partnering with St. Matthew's, we're making this extraordinary concert available to a larger audience than we can host."

        The Spiritual Renaissance Singers is an ensemble of professional

        musicians who have performed throughout Tampa Bay for over 20

        years. Impetus for their formation came from a concern that a rich

        legacy of African-American vocal music was being neglected. Their
        commitment to preserve these traditionally unaccompanied folk

        songs in their authentic form brings excellence to their performances.

     Most of our popular music can trace its origins to spirituals sung by slaves. If it weren't for these songs of intense sorrow and worship there wouldn't be jazz, blues, gospel or R&B.

     This a cappella rendition of African-American spirituals perpetuates authentic, unac-companied song arrangements born from life on plantations. Slave owners were so afraid of rebellion that they severely restricted communication. They took away musical instruments, especially drums, knowing that slaves could communicate through coded messages.

     But the slaves were permitted to sing, especially if their songs were religious in nature. Only after freed slaves moved north did they compose songs with instrumental accompaniments.
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     Admission to this concert is free, but an offering will be taken to support St. Augustine's youth ministries. After the concert a light reception of coffee, punch and cookies will be held in St. Matthew's Parish Hall.
     For more information, contact Judith Krug at (727) 439-5784.