Monday, September 23, 2024

Down Home Old School Black (African American) Primitive Baptist Church Singing (video, information, & comments)



mountcalvarypb, August 22, 2010
-snip-
"Pb"= "Primitive Baptist" (a Christian denomination)

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a YouTube video of a Sunday church service at Mount Calvary Primitive Baptist Church, Roanoke, Virginia.

Information about the Primitive Baptist denomination is included in this post along with selected comments from this video's discussion thread are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for historical, religious, linguistic, and cultural purposes.
I'm particularly interested in documenting the use of the present tense African American Vernacular English  word "sang" ("sangin" and other forms) that means "to sing very well, especially to sing soulfully very well".

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Mount Calvary Primitive Baptist Church and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE PRIMITIVE BAPTIST DENOMINATION
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primitive_Baptists
"Primitive Baptists – also known as Regular Baptists, Old School Baptists, Foot Washing Baptists, or, derisively, Hard Shell Baptists[2] – are conservative Baptists adhering to a degree of Calvinist beliefs who coalesced out of the controversy among Baptists in the early 19th century over the appropriateness of mission boards, tract societies, and temperance societies.[3][4] Primitive Baptists are a subset of the Calvinistic Baptist tradition.[1] The adjective "primitive" in the name is used in the sense of "original".[3]

[...]

The official split between "Old School" and "New School" Baptists occurred during a meeting at the Black Rock Church on September 28, 1832 in Butler, MD. This became known as the Black Rock Address.[7][8][9]

Primitive Baptist churches arose in the mountainous regions of the American South, where they are found in their greatest numbers.[10][11]

African-American Primitive Baptist groups have been considered a unique category of Primitive Baptist. Approximately 50,000 African Americans are affiliated with African-American Primitive Baptist churches as of 2005.[12] Approximately 64,000 people were affiliated (as of 1995) with Primitive Baptist churches in the various other emergences of Primitive Baptists.[12]

Since arising in the 19th century, the influence of Primitive Baptists has waned as "Missionary Baptists became the mainstream".[5]

[...]

Distinct practices

Primitive Baptist practices that are distinguishable from those of other Baptists include a cappella singing, family integrated worship, and foot washing.

A cappella singing

Primitive Baptists generally do not play musical instruments as part of their worship services.[16] They believe that all church music should be a cappella because there is no New Testament command to play instruments, but only to sing.[15] Further, they connect musical instruments in the Old Testament with "many forms and customs, many types and shadows, many priests with priestly robes, many sacrifices, festivals, tithings" that they see as having been abolished; "had they been needed in the church Christ would have brought them over".[15]

African-American Primitive Baptists may not share the general Primitive Baptist opposition to musical instruments, however.[17]"...

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
(with numbers added for referencing purposes only)


"Love this, this is what I was raised on. 2nd Sunday at Cedar Grove Primitive Baptist Church Hallelujah!!!"

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2.@b4real2me, 2018
"Now that's church right there, they ain't playing church... THEY'RE ALL 'BOUT CHURCH!!!"

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3. @shantelroberts6371, 2019
"they dont need no bands at their church"

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4. @mzhollywood8978, 2019
"Who is singing first? Do any have lyrics? Love primitive Baptist"

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Reply
"I'm a Pilgram" is the name of the song. The version he is singing a version in the fashion of the old quartets of the forties and early 50s. The Soul Stirrers got a good version."

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"You beta sang that thang now getting good to me YESSAUH!!! EVERYDAY JUST LIKE SUNDAY!!"

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"Yes it's gonna be like Sunday..go ahead yes Lord. I'm loving this song..thank you for taking me down memory lane"

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8. @ellerbe68, 2020
"Deacon Adams doing his good singing on this one!!"

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"Sing Church sing. Haven't heard singing like this since I was a child. Got me in tears you thank you Jesus"

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"The man sitting in the back look like he's mad about something don't come to church if you ain't going to praise the Lord."

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Reply
11.!evelynf.harris-rayford983, 2020
"Judging much aren't you sis?"
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Reply
"I DO hear what you're sayin, sis. I am still glad he showed up, anyway. That SANGIN' gon' git him, sooner or later, and God's gon' use it to talk to him! Lol Glory to God!!!"

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13. @skating43, 2021
"This is church!

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14. @msve5636, 2021
"Old school church, love it.."

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"Now this is Church..... Down home Church....I miss this "

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16. @hermanalovesher7983, 2021
"Sing Deacon (leading from the pew during collection)!!! No instruments needed. ️️"

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"Now this was how the church would be... The whole congregation is the choir and praise team. Anyone could sing a song even if you wasn't the best singer"

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"Thenman in the back with the glasses!!! Always just has to be one #smh Praise him yall!!"

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"Sing 11152020 Yes,Yes,Yes reminds of my great grandmother's church in North Carolina and Camp Meeting...only need those brown tambourines and foot stomping️️️️️"

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21. @rosiedaboyz5072, 2021
"This is my kind of church. yassssss, old school "

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22. @tinahall-mcclain338, 2021
"This takes me back to my childhood memories at Friendship Baptist Church in Bridgeport Connecticut!"

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"Oh yes! These soul-stirring songs are always welcome. "

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"No music but you can still dance they don't have to depend on no musicians to get there praise on all I hear is feet stamping and hands clapping let every thing that have breath praise the lord"

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"Yes sing sing! People didn’t need drums overshadowing the singing. You actually feel something and you are not the same after an experience like this. No falling asleep in church or bored"

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26. @cocoa_bean_queen, 2021
"I remember hearing this kind of gospel when I was child. Sing church! "

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"I just love this kind of singing and praise God ALMIGHTY come church Glory Hallelujah Amen"

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"No electricity needed. We got the Holy Spirit to provide us with energy and Yeshua the Messiah gives us our freedom regardless of anything going on in earth. God bless these Elders"

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"This is so nice. I remember the basement prayer meetings back in 1970s. Dynamite presence of God."

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30. @marvagordon4312, 2021
"Amen amen sho was some good church yes Lord"

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31. @karena4114, 2021
"This the kind of church I grew up in. I miss it so much "

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"...now open the windows and pass out the paper fans from the funeral home...the spirit is gonna move. In my mind, I see the ushers in their white dresses. Happy but sad....God what happened to us a black people? You brought us so far, yet we have so far to go. Wandering the dessert is getting old. Please don't let us die here. Let us remember our roots, like this video of church worshipping you with sincerity and joy, so we can get to the promised land. Our race for your glory, in Jesus name. Amen."

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33. CCH250, 2021
"That’s a REAL worship service! ️️"
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"Good ole days. I don't go to church like I use to but listening to songs like this and other gospel songs I grew up with soothes my soul. It brings peace. Church isn't like it use to be now days."

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35. @sisterstephanie7908, 2021
"I pray that when this second wave of COVID-19 passes and the doors of the "real" Church opens again that God will bless me to find a place to get some authentic "rib sticking" power! I'm through being pushed around in the spirit because of the slow recovery from the hurts at the hands of the alleged Saints."

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36. @brashajones7501, 2021
"This is what you called having church. I miss these days"

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"AMEN AMEN AMEN..ME 2!!!"

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"Nothing like that Old time religion.. the congregation will take it over when you stop singing.."

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39.@Susan-yq8pf, 2021
"I was brought up on that singing in Blythewood SC . Love it . That music is real ."

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"This Is Not Just RoanokeI've Heard This All Of My Life While Growing Up In Southeast AlabamaHearing This Feels Like Home To The Sunday Afternoon Singings"

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"This kind of service reminds me of growing up in Alabama I love this it brings sweet memories thank you for this video!"

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"Shout out to Loudon St. Baptist church in Roanoke. God Bless you all."

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"Yes sah!!! Everyday gonna be like Sunday THANK YAH JesusGLORY"

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44, @nnayahagadite3859, 2021
"Look at the sons and daughters of Zion!"

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"We all need to raise the bar back up to this level"

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"Nice!!! We get so caught up in our big churches we forget what got us there... those gold offering plates I haven’t seen in a long time.️"

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"Oh how I miss these type of services"

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48. @gaillove9726, 2021
"Yes this what God  wants us to do, praise his Holy Name. But never**
"Us white folks could stand a shot of this.....it’s OK to celebrate God!!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸"

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"Reminds me of Park Hall True Holiness church in the country of Southern Maryland. Dinner served after church."

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"This made me smile. Bless God for the purity of heart and the love of worship. Today some ppl can't worship unless there's a whole orchestra in the church."

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"No frills just straight fyha worship"

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Praise God for he is sent me PB services that minister to me in "these times of deep longing for God glorifying church. I grew up attending both Beulah Chapel Primitive Baptist Church, my Father's church and St. John AME my Mother. Our family had 2 churches. I loved going to both churches."
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54. @edwardthorpe2943, 2021
"THIS IS CHURCHIN, GONNA BE LIKE SUNDAY"

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55. bookitty1232000, 2021
"This is when church was church."
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Reply
56. @leelawson1494, 2021
"Why can it not be now"

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Reply
"@leelawson1494  Music is not the same as when it was in my younger years,. Choirs rarely sing the old hymns. It can be now according to what they sing in your church. When the entire congregation joins in it really warms the heart. Hymns are usually sang twice during the service but so many don't seem to know them. That is when the entire church joins in."

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"This is good singing and old time church what I grew up on. Back in the day. The only thing is they shouldn't take the offering up while worshipping. The money will roll in so just praise God and collect the offerings and tithes off camera, not while taping." Otherwise, you know how to have Church and Not entertain folk.

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"Sadly, this is not the kind of church most people are attracted to anymore. It’s ok every once in a while but we don’t want this to be our norm in 2020. To most ppl today, this is boring, old school stuff. But unlike much of what we see today, this is real. The ppl are sincere. Everybody is on the same accord. No one seems to be trying to get views and likes. This is genuine church. I grew up on this in the clay hills of Mississippi. The ppl weren’t rich or wealthy. They were just glad to be in church. I’d give anything to go back to when the content of this clip was the norm. Ppl shouted. They testified. They praised. And most importantly, ppl got saved! Y’all can have all that new stuff. Give me this right here"

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"You know it good with out music just the voice"

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61. @tigerwilson323, 2021
"Foot stomping hand clapping spirit felt .... Who remeber the wash broad?????"

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BABY IF YOU DONT HEAR THAT DOUBLE CLAP OR YOU "AIN'T GOT THAT CHURCH MOTHA THAT TAKE OVER THE WHOLE ENTIRE SONG OR YALL CAN'T SET THE CHURCH ON FIRE WITHOUT A SINGLE NSTRUMENT THEN YOU AIN'T BEEN TO "CHUCH"

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"Let the church say amen"

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"Took me right back to my child hood"

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65. @christiansgrandma6812, 2023
would stop to join in the praise. Thanks for posting."

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"This was how I grew up and I can’t stand modern church honestly. We transitioned into putting a time limit on God no more deacons leading devotion just a praise team and it is not the same"

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"The way church use to be back in the day, just hit different than it do now, the feeling you use to feel is missing now"

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"I can watch the gentleman at the start of this all day. The whole video is good but when he (I believe the minister) begins dipping and bopping, as he is feeling what he is singing about - his home beyond the city "

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"Aleight Now!! The brother is singing and clapping!!!"

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70. @mamamattiemae854, 2024
"Amen...this is the kind of singing the churches need to go back too...this when the Spirit was really felt."

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71. @MrBIGTEE504, 2024
"Yes yes that preacher caught the Holy Ghost thank you Jesus"

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"This contemporary music needs to go back to old time gospel singing "

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73. @drucella5581, 2024
"This is when we were focused on God and not performance. You can actually feel the power of the Holy Spirit."

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"I hate to say that I can't stand the sound of gospel / church music now I love this old school gospel music 1970s - 1980s This is real church when you don't need a full band and praise dancers. This is when ladies and girls wore dresses and men and boys wore suits. No street/club clothes and tennis shoes. . . I miss the good ole days . . . "

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"This is when church was church and not entertainment."

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76.@sherleengibson8847, 2024
"The Double Clapping ,I love this ."

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1 comment:

  1. Azizi PowellSeptember 23, 2024 at 10:07 AM

    Here's a comment exchange about certain (African American) Primitive Baptist Churches having musical instruments as part of their worship services.

    (Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJBTHixGQ8A Look Where He Brought Me From, published by KATHY PHELPS, Apr 28, 2011
    Easter Sunday 2011 Mt. Carmel Primitive Baptist Church, Ideal, GA

    1. @SuperDean516, 2015
    "I have a question can Primitive Baptist use tambourines?"

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    Reply
    2. @badexter1, 2015
    "SuperDean516 Hi..now the city Primitive Baptists here in FL in Tampa and Miami DO use instruments:Tamvourines, Piano, Organ, Guitar,Drums and have CHoirs, Mass Choirs just like the other African American Baptist churches and ALSO have this type of singing as well. They observe Footwashing at The Lord's Supper and that is what makes them PB but they DO use instruments. I only recently found out that some rural PB do not,,they are different kinds of Primitive Baptists..thanks..BD"

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    Reply
    3. @minfixit, 2021
    "My understanding is the difference between Primitive Baptist v. Progressive Primitive Baptist. Progressive Primitive allow use of instruments."

    ReplyDelete