Screening

About Rejoice and Shout

Rating:

PG PG

Year Released:

2010

Genres:

Documentary

Metadata:

Directed by Don McGlynn

Rejoice and Shout traces the evolution of gospel through its many musical styles—the spirituals and early hymns, the four-part, harmony-based quartets, the integration of blues and swing into gospel, the emergence of soul, and the blending of rap and hip-hop elements. Gospel music also walked in step with the story of African American culture—slavery, hardscrabble rural existence and plantation work, the exodus to major cities, the Depression, World War II, and civil rights and empowerment. Rejoice and Shout connects the history of African American culture with gospel as it first affected popular culture at large. (Digital presentation.)

Mavis Staples (featured prominently in the film) kicks off the 2011 Lotus World Music & Arts Festival in a concert at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater on Thursday, September 22. Ticket and event information is found at lotusfest.org/festival-main.