Lift Every Voice and Sing: Contemporary Freedom Songs

• Rebecca Fields-Moffitt
• Posted 2/18/21
• 0 comments

Contemporary Freedom Songs – Part 3

This Lesson is part of a Larger Unit developed for the Iowa City Community School District, preparing the fifth and sixth grade students to sing the choral arrangement of Lift Every Voice and Sing by Rollo Dilworth, published by Music Xpress. In addition to learning about contemporary freedom songs students should spend time with your selected version of “Lift Every Voice”. 

Please read Lift Every Voice and Sing: The Culture of a Song prior to teaching this lesson to understand the research and philosophy of this project.  

Contemporary Freedom Songs  

Freedom songs did not end with the Civil Rights Movement of mid-20^th Century America. Composers are still creating music that inspires us to strive for equality and a better world. 

“Glory” by John Legend and Common from the movie Selma 

• Watch and listen to this example of a contemporary freedom song. 

• Students respond to the discussion prompts: 
• What do the composers mean by “Glory”? 
• What do you know about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.? 
• Have the goals that MLK set been met? 

Relating to Current Events

• The Iowa City, IA community saw Black Lives Matter protest activity last summer. At one of these protests our mayor, Bruce Teague, began a group-sing of the song “Lean on Me”.  
• The video of this is used as an example of the continued use of song as a form of protest.  

• Consider substituting this video and information with events in your own community. 

Another version (very traditional choral arrangement) to share with students: 

“Lift Every Voice and Sing”, arranged and conducted by Roland M. Carter.  

• Watch a performance 

Discussion Questions: 

• How does this version differ from those we’ve already viewed? 
• Would you like to sing in a choir like this? Why or why not? 
• Of the different versions we have seen, which is your favorite? Why? 

Reaching All Learners 

• Watch video of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” with American Sign Language.  
• If you are concerned about religious tones in this song, I suggest only using the first verse. 

Drumming play-along. 

• I know that not all children enjoy singing, but want to be a part of the music.  
• Use this simple drumming arrangement to play along with live singing or with a variety of recorded versions of this piece.  
  – For this piece, I would start with a timeline of the tambourine on every dotted quarter note 
  – Then add the low drum 
  – Then the high drum (they have a conversation) 
  – Change the tambourine to as written. Help students find the connection between the tambourine and when the high drum begins 
• Spotify playlist with multiple versions of “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
  – Some songs on this playlist use 4/4 meter instead of the traditional 6/8.  
  – I would use Ensemble 1 from the World Music Drumming curriculum as a play-along to accompany versions in 4/4.  
  – WARNING: Some versions may not appropriate for use at your school – please listen prior to using with students. 

Movement 

• Watch examples of how “Lift Every Voice and Sing”  is used as the music track for dance.  

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre  

Darion Thompson 

• Movement response to music should be accepted and encouraged.  

In our district we give students the option to submit a video of their singing to be uploaded as part of a virtual choir. Their recordings can include a visual of the student singing or just include a recording of their voice.  

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References  

Berry, Deborah Barfield (January 11, 2021). To help heal racial wounds, Black national anthem would become America’s hymn under proposal. USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/12/black-national-anthem-jim-clyburn-pushes-song-national-hymn/6560250002/ 

Iowa City Press Citizen (May 31, 2020). Bruce Teague, mayor of Iowa City, sang a chorus of Bill Withers’ song “Lean on me” with protesters. Facebook. https://fb.watch/1A2TCj9_F_/   

Muhammad, L. (July 2, 2020). 15 Powerful Songs That Embody and Support Black Lives Matter Movement. etonline. https://www.etonline.com/15-powerful-songs-that-embody-and-support-black-lives-matter-movement-147773 

Perry, Imani (2018). MaWe Forever Stand: A History of the Black National Anthem. The University of North Carolina Press. 

Sanger, Kerran L. (1995). “When the Spirit Says Sing!” The Role of Freedom Songs in the Civil Rights Movement. Garland Publishing. 

Schmid, Will (2015). World Music Drumming: A Cross-Cultural Curriculum, 20^th Anniversary Edition, Hal Leonard.