Week 2- Authenticity

Title: Follow the Drinking Gourd

Performer: Patricia Eredia
Culture/Origin: America- African American Slaves

Orchestration: Voice and Guitar

Reaction: When I think of Follow the Drinking Gourd, I remember learning it in elementary school and later about the meaning behind it.  The "drinking gourd" referred to the north star and slaves were told to "follow the drinking gourd" along the Undergroud Railroad to reach the North and receive their freedom.  African American Slaves had many of these spirituals to get them through the long, endless days of forced manual labor, and they would unite with these songs.  While I have never met Ms. Patricia Eredia, I feel her performance can be at least somewhat considered "authentic."  While she is clearly not a slave seeking freedom in the North, she puts emotion into the song.  Additionally, the whole audience gets involved with clapping much how the slaves would unite due to these songs.  Paticia uses soul in her performance, and thats what the slaves' spirituals were all about, soul, and the will to unite and move forward another day.