Twelve Gates to the City: An Anthology of African-American Sacred Singing in Southern Maryland, Vol. 1

Twelve Gates to the City: An Anthology of African-American Sacred Singing in Southern Maryland, Vol. 1

Track Listings

1. Come Let Us Worship the Lord

2. Hide Behind That Old Mountain

3. It's Good to Know Jesus

4. Twelve Gates to the City

5. Walk in Jerusalem

6. Way Down on the Inside

7. Leaning on the Everlasting Arm

8. You Got to Move

9. By and By

10. The Lord Will Make a Way Somehow

11. Running for My Life

12. The Lord is Blessing Me Right Now

13. Give Me the Strength to Do Thy Will

14. He's an On-Time God

15. I Shall Not Be Moved

16. Gospel Ship/Jesus He Will Fix It/You Can't Make Me Doubt Him

17. Wade in the Water

18. Pass Me Not, Oh Gentle Savior

19. No Hiding Place

20. The Old Songs of Zion

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
An Anthology of Rural Singing and Preaching Styles in African-American Churches of Southern Maryland

This anthology of rural singing and preaching styles in African-American churches of southern Maryland was recorded on site between October, 2002 and July, 2003 by folklorists Carrie and Michael Kline under the auspices of the Southern Maryland Folklife Project at St. Mary's College of Maryland. The singing styles of the featured choirs and individuals have flourished in a region where African-American communities date to the 1600s. Shiloh Community United Methodist Church, where most of the recording occurred, is the oldest African-American church in Charles County, Maryland, with beginnings during the height of the American Civil War.

Now, at a time when neighboring churches have moved on to synthesized and electrified instrumental sounds, the music of Shiloh Community and Mt. Calvary United Methodist Churches remains strong and spirited with inspired piano and tambourine accompaniment, hand-clapping and a cappella singing.