Prompt 10- Zocko Jr

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as1rsZenwNc 

I selected the live performance of the gospel song “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” by Mahalia Jackson. This song and the artist’s performance speak to the very spirit of traditional gospel. The mournful yet hopeful and resolute feeling in Jackson’s voice expresses both a personal, individual, and universal connection to the song’s message of seeking the Lord’s help through trying times. Her slow pacing and enunciation, combined with strong control over her vocals, emphasizes her tone and delivers a powerful listening experience. I am also struck by the lack of expressive physical movement or showmanship on the artist’s part; her total immersion in the emotion of the song’s words and tune is a quality I strongly associate with the gospel tradition. As I watch Jackson sing, I better understand how gospel music forges a collective space for catharsis and faith in the Lord even amid pain and suffering. The performance helps me to understand why Mahalia Jackson is often called the Queen of Gospel.