Songs of slavery and emancipation

"The contents of this book are, quite simply, fascinating and any reader with an interest in the history of slavery, the history of the U.S and the history of American music should have this down as one for their wish list but it's a book that will have a wider appeal than just to those directly interested in the subject matter, because it also represents some outstanding research and a fascinating story about how these songs were brought together and what they mean for society as a whole ... An aural accompaniment to the book, this two-disc collection (available separately) brings to life many of the songs discovered by and detailed within its pages by Matt Callahan. Disc one features songs which were popular among slave communities while disc two is composed of songs written and sung by abolitionist groups, an early version of protest songs ... As a stand-alone package, the CD of Songs Of Slavery And Emancipation deserves to be heard and should certainly be included in any serious study of the slave trade. It's also recommended for those here who want to delve into the roots of the music we share a love for".

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