0_Apprentice
I'm not very religious so I don't know a lot about gospel music, can you tell me anything about that style?
1_Wizard
Of course! I'd love to, I'm a huge fan of gospel music! It's known for its dominant vocals, strong use of harmony and Christian lyrics. It's really beautiful music.
0_Apprentice
That does sound powerful just reading about it, does it have a long history?
1_Wizard
It does, but it's not well documented. The earliest use of the term "gospel song" was first published in 1874.
0_Apprentice
Oh I would imagine it's probably older than that given the history of churches I guess. Are there any famous gospel artists I should know about?
1_Wizard
Well actually, before it was known as gospel music, that typical style of music can be traced back to the early 17th century.
0_Apprentice
Oh cool, did it have a different name back then?
1_Wizard
Not really, it was known for it's hand clapping, foot stomping and a cappella singing though!
0_Apprentice
That does sound familiar now that I think about what I've seen. Do you know anything else interesting about gospel?
1_Wizard
Interestingly enough, after World War II gospel music really took off! It moved into major auditoriums and the concerts became quite elaborate! I'll bet that was something to see!