Pentecostal Gospel
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Pentecostal gospel is the exuberant worship music of Spirit-filled Pentecostal churches, especially the Church of God in Christ, built on Hammond organ, drums, tambourine, piano and full-throated singing that drives toward the shout, the holy dance and speaking in tongues. It prizes rhythmic intensity, spontaneous "tarrying" praise and virtuosic, melisma-heavy leads backed by tight family and choir harmonies. Tempos push from soulful mid-grooves to breakneck up-tempo praise, and the mood is fiery, joyful and Spirit-charged. Signature techniques include the organ-and-drum shout, the tarrying vamp and the ecstatic, escalating praise break.
History
Pentecostal gospel traces to the 1906 Azusa Street Revival and the rise of the Church of God in Christ, whose embrace of instruments and rhythmic worship shaped a distinctive sacred sound. Its recorded pioneers include Arizona Dranes and Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and its modern masters — the Detroit-based Clark Sisters (daughters of COGIC choir director Mattie Moss Clark), Andraé Crouch, the Rance Allen Group and Vanessa Bell Armstrong — brought COGIC musicality to national audiences. The tradition's virtuoso vocal runs, tight harmony and praise-break energy heavily influenced soul, contemporary gospel and modern worship, and COGIC musicianship remains a wellspring of gospel talent.
Defining artists
Essential listening
- You Brought the Sunshine(1981) — The Clark SistersSpotifyYouTube
- Is My Living in Vain(1980) — The Clark SistersSpotifyYouTube
- The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power — Andraé CrouchSpotifyYouTube
- Ain't No Need of Crying — Rance Allen GroupSpotifyYouTube
- Strange Things Happening Every Day(1944) — Sister Rosetta TharpeSpotifyYouTube
- Victory Is Mine — Dorothy NorwoodSpotifyYouTube
Sources
- Jerma A. Jackson, Singing in My Soul: Black Gospel Music in a Secular Age (2004)
- Robert Darden, People Get Ready! A New History of Black Gospel Music (2004)
- Anthony Heilbut, The Gospel Sound: Good News and Bad Times (1997)