Unit: African American Gospel Music and Spirituals with Andrea and Puma

Find our Neighborhood (5 min.)

The Conductor now takes us on a journey from Carnegie Hall to Harlem, Manhattan, to meet our first singers
for this semester, Andrea and Puma. Have students turn to SG22 and help them do the following:

• Find Carnegie Hall in Manhattan.
• Find Andrea and Puma in Harlem, Manhattan.
• Complete the activity.

Lesson 1: Learning “This Train Is Bound for Glory”

Aim: What musical opposites can we find in “This Train Is Bound for Glory”?
Summary: Students meet the artist, explore the meaning of the song, and review musical opposites of
dynamics (loud/soft) and tempo (fast/slow).
Materials: Musical Explorers CD, Musical Explorers Student Guide
Time Required: 30 minutes (three 10-minute activities)
Standards: US 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9; NYC 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Vocabulary: dynamics, gospel music, spiritual, tempo

Meet Andrea and Puma

Sing "This Train Is Bound for Glory"

• Listen to “This Train Is Bound for Glory.”

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• Now listen to the first verse of “This Train Is Bound for Glory,” and sing along with Andrea and Puma.

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Sheet Music: "This Train is Bound for Glory"

Lyrics: "This Train Is Bound for Glory"

This train is bound for glory, this train,
This train is bound for glory, this train,
This train is bound for glory,
Don’t ride nothin’ but the righteous and holy
Oh, oh, oh, talkin’ ’bout this train.

This train don’t carry no liars, this train,
This train don’t carry no liars, this train,
This train don’t carry no liars, no hypocrites, and no
high flyers.
Oh, oh, oh, talkin’ ’bout this train.

This train has left the station, this train,
This train has left the station, this train,
This train has left the station, this train takes on
every nation.
Oh, oh, oh, talkin’ ’bout this train.

This train is built for speed, this train,
This train is built for speed, this train,
This train is built for speed, fastest train that you
ever did see,
Oh, oh, oh, talkin’ ’bout this train.

This train is bound for glory, this train,
This train is bound for glory, this train,
This train is bound for glory,
Don’t ride nothin’ but the righteous and holy
Oh, oh, oh, talkin’ ’bout this train.

Explore Musical Opposites in "This Train Is Bound For Glory"

• Review the musical opposites learned in the fall. Listen for loud/soft dynamics and fast/slow tempos in
  “This Train Is Bound for Glory,” Track 21.
• Discuss the sounds that you hear a train make in your neighborhood.
  Brainstorm some of the “opposite” sounds you might hear a train make.
• What is a soft train sound (e.g., the rumble of a distant train)?
• What is a loud train sound (e.g., a train whistle or wheels screeching)?
• What is a slow train sound (e.g., the sounds of the wheels starting)?
• What is a fast train sound (e.g., the whoosh of the train whizzing by)?
• Once you have decided on four contrasting train sounds, create a musical train. Divide the class into four
  groups and assign each group a train sound. Point to each group when you want them to start, gradually
  adding new sounds. Indicate when each group should stop making their sound. Remember to focus on
  musical opposites of loud/soft or fast/slow.
• Sing “This Train Is Bound for Glory,” adding in your own musical opposites.

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About Gospel Music

“This Train Is Bound for Glory” is written in a style of American folk music called gospel.
Gospel music has diverse roots, but was influenced by African American spirituals, which
were songs originally sung by African American slaves to express their emotions during
times of difficulty. Influences of folk music and call-and-response church music are also
present in gospel. There is often a repetitive quality to the music. For more information,
explore HONOR! A History of African American Music in Carnegie Hall’s Digital Library
(carnegiehall.org/honor/history)

Creative Extension: Explore Meaning in “This Train Is Bound for Glory”

• What does “glory” mean? Ask students to imagine a glorious place. (Common definitions of glory include great beauty and splendor; praise, honor, or distinction; a height of achievement).
• Turn to SG24 and draw a train. Imagine that the train is headed for a glorious place and include an image in the picture to represent this special place. Share your work with Carnegie Hall (musicalexplorers@carnegiehall.org).
• Listen again to “This Train Is Bound for Glory,” Track 21, and sing along.

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Musical Word Wall

Add the words dynamics, gospel music, spiritual, and tempo to the Musical Word Wall.

Meet the Artists: Andrea and Puma

Andrea and Puma

African American Gospel Music and Spirituals

Andrea Jones-Sojola and Phumzile (“Puma”) Sojola are both classically trained singers with strong backgrounds in gospel music and spirituals. Andrea is a native of Louisville, Kentucky, and has performed with the American Spiritual Ensemble, as well as in concert halls and opera houses around the world. Puma, originally from South Africa, has toured internationally with the Three Mo’ Tenors and performs regularly on Broadway. They both recently made their Broadway debut in the Tony Award–winning production of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. Visit americanspiritualensemble.com/voices.html and threemotenorsontour.com/phumzile for more information about Andrea and Puma.