Spiritual Music

Groveland Fellowship’s pianist Paul Hjelmsstad will present a service describing the development of African American spirituals and will especially look at hymns in the UU hymnal. This rich tradition developed exclusively in the United States, and had many diverse influences from African culture, but also ended up itself influencing several kinds of Black American Music, particularly Gospel Soul, Rhythm and Blues and even Jazz.

Paul will split the time between discussing the historical and sociological importance of spirituals and playing samples of a number of them from the UU hymnal and other Unitarian Universalist songbooks. 

Paul is an accomplished pianist who teaches piano and tutors students in math and other subjects.  He is a member of Groveland Fellowship.