Tufts gets a lesson in gospel music

Black History Month started off with a bang in a big way on Saturday night as Tufts University hosted a commemorative event to kick off the month-long celebration of African American culture and diversity: Gospel 101: A Cultural Experience. The first event of its kind here at Tufts, the evening of gospel music was in the planning for over a year, thanks to student organizers Deborah Durant, Adrianne Gladden, and Nytangia Leitzsey as well as faculty members Lisa Coleman, Denise Phillips and Assistant Professor Idella Johnson.

The auditorium was nearly packed from the opening note, as people from diverse backgrounds eagerly filled the seats in anticipation of the upcoming musical experience. Coleman, Head of the Tufts Africana Center, introduced the festivities, saying that the concert was being held for three reasons: to communicate and foster an appreciation for gospel music, to celebrate and honor a commitment to the community, and to embrace a cultural dialogue that extends beyond the University. "Black History Month is a time of celebration," Coleman told the crowd, "and we're starting at Tufts by celebrating our community and our music."

The program was hosted by the Two Old Ladies, a local comedy sketch performed by Bonnie F. Weaver and Shirley Mullen. As Agnes and Annabel, two elderly sisters who "deigned" to host the night's festivities, Weaver and Mullen had the audience rocking in their seats nearly the entire evening. Whether trading barbs back and forth _ "Behave, Annabel! This is a college we at!" crowed Agnes at one point, to which her sister promptly returned, "I know, that's why I fell!" _ or singing their own versions of the performed songs, the Two Old Ladies brought a lovely, off-beat tone and many laughs to the evening's performance.

Essence, the all-female a capella group at Tufts dedicated to music of the African Diaspora and always a powerful stage presence, opened the concert portion of the evening with the Black National Anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing." The group's second song had every member of the packed auditorium on their feet, featuring a soloist with beautiful vocal dexterity and a lively ending that left the entire crowd calling for more.

"It seems like every time I hear them, they've gotten a little bit better," concertgoer Robert Blackman said. "It was definitely an appropriate start to the evening."

Tufts Third Day Gospel Choir, directed by Johnson, was the next to take the stage and was greeted with an enthusiastic reception from the audience. The sheer size of the group was overwhelming; with each member of the choir singing with all of her heart, this powerful musical experience filled the auditorium, bringing the music alive and once again bringing the audience member to its feet.

The rest of the evening featured local gospel groups from beyond the Tufts Community. David Roitfarb, a young man who practices what he calls "Street Gospel" or "Spiritual Hip Hop," provided a break from traditional church music with two lively songs in which he proceeded to rap the gospel. This staggering of styles provided a nice break from the traditional and Roitfarb's unique take on religious music seemed to fascinate the audience.

"I hadn't really heard anything like it before," Erin Roithberg said. "But it was just incredible listening to him. It seemed like he was totally singing from the heart."

Roitfarb was followed by Nancy Bilonda, an inspiring young gospel singer. Her group also delved into the realm of "gospel reggae" in yet another break from the usual, producing a lively energy that had the entire auditorium dancing along. This variety of differentiations on classic gospel music, interspersed with the more traditional styles, seemed to re-energize the genre in the eyes of the audience and provided a modern take on this sometimes traditional music.

The T. Robinson Chorale, a more traditional gospel group, took the stage next, followed by "Littlepraiser," a young girl who used interpretive dance mixed with beautiful music to provide yet another deviation from what we tend to think of as "conventional" gospel. The evening concluded with Freda Battle and the Temple Worshippers, another choir that provided a more traditional interpretation of gospel music but with energy that brought the audience back to its feet.

The final group was nationally renowned gospel artist Freda Battle and the Temple Praisers. Battle and the Temple Praisers emphasized the spiritual nature of gospel and had the audience on the feet for all of their songs.

Gospel music is unique in that it offers its audience a chance to become part of the performance. Clapping, stomping, and dancing in the aisles is as much a staple of the style as the uplifting lyrics and soaring voices that make gospel such a champion of the religious spirit.

"It just really captured the essence of Black History Month, the entire evening," JoAnn Tiller said. "It was such a powerful way to start things off, and all the groups were absolutely incredible. With any luck, we'll be back again next year."