340 PART 3 | FROM WORLD WAR I THROUGH WORLD WAR II
CD 2.18 Listening Guide 14.2 “Talk about Jesus” THOMAS A. DORSEY
Listen & Refl ect
- “Talk about Jesus” uses neither the twelve-bar blues chorus nor the standard blues chord
progression. As performed by Marion Williams, however, its affi nity with the blues is
apparent. What are the similarities?
date: recorded 1986
performer: Marion Williams, vocal and
piano
genre: gospel song
meter: duple
form: verse, chorus, chorus (ABB' )WHAT TO LISTEN FOR- simplicity of harmony and verse-and-
chorus form - expressive performance using blues vocal
techniques - shaping of performance to reach an
emotional climax in the second chorus
timing section text comments0:00 verse On the road there was
a cry...Vocal begins quietly, with simple chords in the piano;
halfway through, vibrato increases and glides, blue notes,
and other vocal ornaments are introduced.
0:41 chorus 1 Talking about
Jesus...Melody moves into a higher register; Williams adds growls
and bent notes as she increases the volume and rhythmic
drive. The last line (1:11) displays a particularly wide range of
vocal timbres.
1:20 chorus 2 I’m talking about
Jesus...Williams repeats the chorus, adding extra words and notes to
the melody. The piano, while remaining in the background,
develops a rocking, bluesy groove.accompanied a choir of youngsters. She also began showing a knack for lead-
ership. In 1933 Martin recruited several male singers to form the Martin-Frye
Quartet; gospel groups then consisted either of male quartets in business suits
or female choruses in choir robes. By 1936 she was adding her own alto voice to
the group, now called the Roberta Martin Singers, which she accompanied on
piano. In the mid-1940s she added two women singers, marking the fi rst com-
bination of male and female voices in one ensemble. By then, Martin and her
singers were also making records. Based in the area around Chicago, the group
sang in churches, meeting halls, and religious revivals. They also toured by car
from January to June, starting in either California or Florida and working their
way back to the Midwest as winter gave way to spring.172028_14_332-360_r3_ko.indd 340 23/01/13 8:37 PM