Glory, Glory

• Glory, Glory, Odetta, 1956
• Instrumentation: a cappella, no instruments.
• Texture: Although there is only one voice with absolutely no other sound, this song has a seemingly rich texture. Odetta's voice has a rich and powerful feel to it and it seems to resonate even though the acoustics do not echo. There is definitely only one line of music at all times.
• Range: The vocals remain at a fairly low range throughout, but at the end of each verse, Odetta ascends up the scale.
• Tempo: The tempo remains constant throughout, and is very slow.
• Meter: There is a definite meter and slow pulse to this song, which remains constant throughout. I am guessing that it is a four beat meter.
• Volume: The volume follows the range in this piece: when she sings lower, she is softer, and she crescendos as she sings higher. The higher volume parts seem to coincide with "Glory, Glory, Hallelujah" which puts emphasis on these words of hope in a song that gives off a baleful feel.
• Lyrics: The song repeats the chorus "Glory, Glory, Hallelujah" and speaks of laying down a burden. It immediately makes me think of the call and response songs often sung by slaves to keep their spirits up and pass the time as they worked. While Odetta emphasizes the words Glory, Glory, Hallelujah, the song has a sadder tone to it, because it seems she will not find glory until she puts her burden down, and it is not clear that she has the choice of when to put this burden down.