Throughout the colonial period, music played an important role in the daily lives of enslaved people. Although their stories were rarely written down, music helped them hold on to their cultures, express their emotions, and build strong communities even under slavery. Enslaved African Americans were an important part of the musical life of the colonies from the very beginning. Many played instruments like the violin, and some were even known for their skill as musicians during the 1700s.

Many enslaved Africans brought rich musical traditions with them across the Atlantic. These included rhythms, songs, and styles that were passed down through memory and performance. On American plantations, enslaved people were often not allowed to use drums or other traditional instruments. However, they found other ways to keep music alive — clapping hands, stomping feet, swaying bodies, and singing together in a style called call and response. In this style, one person sings a line and others answer. It was common in many West African cultures.

Spirituals, also called sorrow songs, became some of the most important types of music among enslaved people. These songs expressed sadness, faith, hope, and the desire for freedom. Even though many had Christian themes, spirituals were also used to secretly plan meetings or signal escape. Songs like Go Down Moses or I’ve Got Shoes gave people courage and reminded them they were human, even when the law said otherwise.

Some spirituals developed from African melodies, while others were created from scratch using familiar patterns. The banjo, originally made from a hollow gourd, was one of the instruments used, along with handmade drums. These tools helped musicians create rhythms and tell stories, including stories about how their enslavers treated them and the injustice of slavery itself. Music could be a tool of survival, resistance, and memory.

Most enslaved musicians were never credited for their work. Because of this, it is harder for historians to learn about individual people from this time. But a few names survive.

One was Occramer Marycoo, also known as Newport Gardner. He was taken from West Africa and enslaved in Rhode Island. He became a composer, teacher, and performer. By the early 1800s, his music had been published and played in churches and schools. He even started a singing school and led a return trip to Africa later in life.

Another was Sawney Freeman, a violinist and composer in Connecticut. He was born into slavery and later became a free man. Some of his handwritten music from the early 1800s was recently discovered and performed for the first time in over 200 years.

Though the full stories of many enslaved musicians are still unknown, their music survived. It helped shape American culture and continues to be rediscovered today.

Source B: Sorrow Song: I’m in Trouble. Unknown Author.