Oral history interview with Vincent Stringer, 1999

Born in Connecticut of parents from the South, Vincent Stringer recounts his early memories of growing up in a religious, singing family. He discusses his appreciation of spirituals that began in high school after obtaining a scholarship to study voice at the West Hartford School of Music and Dance. He describes his vision of spirituals as possessing an innate divinity and healing power, but believes many African Americans are ashamed of their enslaved past and the spirituals that are associated with it. He describes the founding of the New England Spiritual Ensemble and the role it plays in preserving the heritage of spirituals, both folk and arranged (concretized) versions. He also describes the annual Praise House November meeting he has organized where members of the community rehearse and perform a concert devoted to spirituals.