The African-American spirituals emerged from enslaved communities in the American South, blending biblical narratives with West African musical traditions and the emotional depth of lived experience. These songs became both spiritual sustenance and coded communication, encoding messages of hope, resistance, and faith that would resonate across generations and eventually influence virtually every genre of American music.
Rollo Dilworth is a composer and arranger deeply rooted in the choral tradition, with extensive experience bringing spirituals and other sacred works to contemporary choirs. His arrangements honor the power and authenticity of these pieces while making them accessible to modern ensembles.
