Spiritual Baptist Music of Trinidad

The hymns on this 1980 Folkways release were recorded during services in Spiritual Baptist churches in northwestern Trinidad between 1976 and 1979. Worship alternates between “cool” periods of quiet contemplation and “hot” periods that call forth manifestations of the Holy Ghost (for example, “speaking in tongues”). The record contains a variety of hymns that are performed during services, from fast-paced songs to an innovative “shout.” Liner notes describe in detail this international religious movement’s distinctive baptism and mourning rites.

Track Listing

101	Marching the Children Home / Glory Halleluja	St. Francis Spiritual Baptist Church, East Dry River (Port-of-Spain), Leader Fitzroy Small	05:41
102	Now Let Every Heart Prepare	Holy Nazarene Spiritual Baptist Church (Curepe), Mother Grizette	04:28
103	Glossolalia (When I Saw My Savior There)	Holy Nazarene Spiritual Baptist Church (Curepe), Mother Grizette	04:47
104	Jesus on the Cross Alone	Mt. Tabor Spiritual Baptist Church (Todds Road-Arima Road), Leader Albert A. DeBique	01:43
105	By the Cross (Where I First Saw the Light)	Little Flock Spiritual Baptist Church (San Juan), Leader Nurse	04:15
106	I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say	Little Flock Spiritual Baptist Church (San Juan), Leader Nurse	04:03
107	A Shout	Holy Nazarene Spiritual Baptist Church (Curepe), Mother Grizette	09:24