10 Stars!

I'm rating this book as a historian and African American Studies resources specialist rather than as someone using it in worship. With that in mind, let me say I have yet to "stump" this hymnal. No matter what song comes to my mind, there it is in the index. Citations regarding authorship & copyright are thorough, the introductory essays informative, and the "Index of Composers, Authors and Sources" invaluable. The only other book which even compares is Songs of Zion, first published by the United Methodist Church in 1981. It has half as many songs though it does include a few not found here...what a vast musical tradition this is!

This is a book that belongs in every library, and on the bookshelf of anybody with an interest in African American sacred music traditions.

Curator, AfroAmericanHeritage dot com

Oh, yes!

This collection of hymns, spirituals, and gospel songs is a total delight. As soon as I opened this book and started playing this music on my keyboard, I could hear heavenly gospel choirs singing in my head. Of course, there are many hymns and songs included here that most people would know, but what makes this hymnbook a treasure are the songs specific to the African-American tradition, with harmonies that unmistakeably suggest a black gospel choir. As a bonus, there is a good quantity of responsive readings in the front of the book suitable for use in the worship service. This book will get you into the Spirit, whether you are black, white, or anything in between. The "African-American Heritage Hymnal" zoomed right to the top of my hymnal collection list the moment it arrived. Get it, you won't be sorry!

Simply the Best

Let me add my heartfelt appreciation to this magnificent hymnary. If I were stranded on a desert island and could take along with my Bible only one volume of hymns that included praise, worship and liturgy, it would most certainly be this.

Yes, most of the liturgy is aimed at African-American congregations, and perhaps the male segment at that. But is there not a universality evenso? The gospel-hymn element is beautifully scored, elegant and full, and (as one would expect) in terms of content its most distinguishing feature versus the more white-oriented denominational hymnals. Nonetheless, gospel songs emerge even more triumphant in the context of a cover-to-cover comprehensive hymnal that all can enjoy.

The HERITAGE reader/purchaser/worshiper will encounter a fully fleshed-out representation of the Anglo-American strain, as good as any I've seen in the old Broadman-Cokesbury-Hope lineage; also something of what would today be generically be lumped as "Catholic" (perhaps better be said "contemporary"); then again up-to-date modern compositions, including songs and responses just not to be encountered elsewhere (sometimes specifically commissioned for the book). HERITAGE paid homage to, but was in no way in thrall to, the "hardshell" or Calvinist aspect of, black American worship traditions.

Am I abashed or what! I had thought I already put away most of my preconceptions of what a "black hymnal" ought to be from exposure from such earlier excellent works such as GIA's "Lead Me, Guide Me." But HERITAGE isn't just a ground-breaker, it's an EARTH-SHAKER. It's a sad reflection on Mainline Protestantism that none of our denominations has had the ba-- excuse me, the guts, to have produced anything like the mass of music and meaning that is HERITAGE. Six Stars. Bless it. Buy It! What part of "all can enjoy" is misleading?

smalling_60626@yahoo.com