My Lord, What a Morning Arr. H. Burleigh
Mia W.
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“My Lord, What a Morning” is an African American spiritual arranged by Henry Thacker Burleigh in 1918. Spirituals are songs that have been passed down orally by enslaved people throughout American history. Composers like Burleigh later arranged them. At first, I did not understand if the song was sorrowful or hopeful based on the lyrics, melody, and complementing accompaniment. With research, I learned that the text is derived from the Bible, Revelations 8:10. The verse describes the destruction of the world; sinners left to perish in this destructive world but the believers of god would be taken into heaven. To my understanding, “Done quit all my worldly ways/ join that heavenly band” is the escape from the potential destruction of the world. I realized that singing the words “My Lord, What a Morning” is sorrowful because it is the last morning on earth, yet it is liberating because one is being freed from the world and taken to a place of peace and freedom. I learned that liberation is an important concept in many African American spirituals since they were considered a way for enslaved people to express their religious faith, hardships, and hopes. I have enjoyed learning and singing this because it has allowed me to connect with what my Native American and Jewish ancestors may have felt during times of oppression to their religious faith, or culture. When performing it, I aim to demonstrate that sorrowful yet hopefulness by using dynamics, and sustaining long phrases.
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Creativity to me means to be vulnerable and share that vulnerability with others to build meaningful connections. Whether creating, performing, or listening, music's ability to evoke emotions allows me to understand others emotions and lives better, understand myself better, and be a part of my community.
