The Psalms of David

Reverend Isaac Watts, an English Nonconformist minister in the late 17th and early 18th century, has long held the title as “Father of Hymnody.” His desire to fill people with passion for the songs that they sang led him to write some 600 hymns, many of which are still being sung today. Hymns composed from the heart marked a departure from the tradition of congregational psalm singing, a tradition initiated by John Calvin's avowal to scriptural song. Hymns had a tremendous influence on African American spirituals, especially those during the "Great Awakening," a religious revival of the 1730's .
Former slave Richard Allen produced the first compilation of hymns specifically for African American congregations, selecting hymns composed by Watts and others. Subjected to stories from the Bible, Africans brought to America were able to see parallels to their own experiences and merged the English hymn with African music styles. Through spirituals, African American slaves conveyed many Christian ideals while also communicating the hardships that they experienced. This creative reworking helped to set apart the music as distinctly African American. Published sixty-six years after the death of the Reverend Watts, this collection of Psalms serves as representation of how religious practices have evolved and paved the way for African American religious practices that many still embrace today.