During the Great Depression, a time when twenty-five percent of Americans were unemployed, and thousands of businesses closed their
doors, gospel music publishing companies of the southern United States experienced a boom in production. The first half of the twentieth
century was arguably the most robust period for southern gospel music. Despite, or perhaps due to, international conflicts, a plummeting
economy, and a massive migration of southerners throughout the United States, these publishing companies sold millions of songbooks each
year. More than a repertoire of commercial popular music, the books were an integral part of a participatory religious musical tradition as
well as a fan-based musical tradition centered in the South that crossed regional and international boundaries. Publishers produced
songbooks, hosted singing schools and conventions, and facilitated gospel newsletters; fan generated, faith-based worship and entertainment
allowed Southerners to work out complex issues of theology and perform intersectional identities through musical culture. This dissertation
explores these intersectional identities, specifically the roles of migrant, mother, laborer, and white southerner through music, song
lyrics, cover images, and discussion in gospel newsletters. / A Dissertation submitted to the College of Music in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree
of Doctor of Philosophy. / Fall Semester 2017. / November 15, 2017. / American Music, Congregational Song, Gospel, Great Depression, Identity, Sacred Music / Includes bibliographical references. / Denise Von Glahn, Professor Directing Dissertation; Suzanne Sinke, University Representative; Frank
Gunderson, Committee Member; Sarah Eyerly, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_604987 |
| Contributors | MacDonald, C. Megan (Christina Megan) (author), Von Glahn, Denise, 1950- (professor directing dissertation), Sinke, Suzanne M. (university representative), Gunderson, Frank D. (committee member), Eyerly, Sarah (committee member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Music (degree granting college) |
| Publisher | Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text, doctoral thesis |
| Format | 1 online resource (198 pages), computer, application/pdf |
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