The Harlem Spiritual Ensemble will perform tonight at 8 p.m. at the Hopkins Center.
Since its founding in 1986, the ensemble has traveled throughout the United States, Europe, and the Far East singing spirituals, and since 1990 has recorded with the Arcadia label.
A review by the Indianapolis Star noted that the ensemble "focuses on that great body of American music, the Negro spiritual."
"This indigenous American music; people should know more about it," Harlem Spiritual Ensemble founder and director Francois Clemmons said.
Through careful research, the group ensures it sings only authentic spirituals, and seeks to bring them to the public in as pure a form as possible.
The six singers integrate a folk flavor to the music, using the dialects the spirituals were originally sung in. A piano and percussion are added, because although spirituals were usually sung a capella, piano and percussion were also often used.
Audience members can sing along, in keeping with the spirit in which the spirituals were originally performed.
All ensemble members have professional music training and extensive singing experience. Members have sung solo in Carnegie Hall, toured in Broadway shows, and worked in radio and television.
Clemmons, after receiving music degrees from Oberlin College and Carnegie Mellon University, performed with the New York City Opera and served as chorusmaster in the Berlin Opera. He currently teaches in the music department at Middlebury College.
Other group members include singers Veronica Lewis, LaTanya Hutchins, Yvonne Hatchett, Gene Howard, Randy Williams, pianist Jeffrey Marder and percussionist Robert Romeo.
In tonight's performance, they will sing traditional spirituals, such as "Go Down Moses" and "Sing Low Sweet Chariot," for the first part of the performance.
For the second half they will perform Linda Twine's musical drama, "Sisters of Freedom," which honors the lives of Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth.
"Spirituals have a powerful effect on audiences of every color because," Clemmons told The Orange County Register, "they contain not only the depth of feeling that grew of the black experience of slavey but also hidden meanings that are universal."
"I hope people will enjoy this music, because it is American music, and it's important to know our roots," Clemmons said.
"Too many people don't know spirituals, don't understand the roots, and that this is where we began as a nation, as a country."
