Seminar on gospel vocality
with Paola Milzani and Maurizio Franco

The seminar aims to deepen some historical, aesthetic, musicologic and technical key aspects of African-American music in relation to work-songs, spiritual, gospel and blues.

The peculiarities of the “voice instrument” - first in Africa and later in America - will be highlighted as first and main expressive, poetic and spiritual medium of black people in America.

Under the technical profile the black American vocal factors will be analysed comparing them to European executive praxis pointing out analogies, differences and mutual influences, related to accentuation, interpretation, variations, melisms and to the agogica of gospel songs.

Therefore the attenders of the seminar will have the opportunity to understand the construction of the piece distinguishing the different vocal tones (of the interpreters), the structure of the piece, the role of the various choir elements and the different internal interactions through the typical call and response procedures and improvisation.

The seminar will be held by Paola Milzani, a teacher of great experience in gospel singing and talented solo singer either in jazz and classical context, supported by Maurizio Franco, one of the most preeminent and competent voices in African-American musicology in Italy and abroad.