August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson” is a play that explores themes of family, cultural history, and grief. The play follows Boy Willie, an enthusiastic and impulsive man looking to sell the family’s heirloom in exchange for the very land his ancestors labored upon as slaves. At the center of this African-American drama is a piano, the family’s heirloom that represents their cultural heritage. A closer look at Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson” showcases the influence and importance of music regarding African American heritage. This essay will explore the roots of African-American music and the genres that influenced Wilson in the making of “The Piano Lesson.”
African-American music first received its roots in the beginning stages of the forced uprooting
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The Bible say: 'Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.'" Gospel music was born from the traditional hymns and spiritual songs the Africans sang during the slave era. The spirituals were songs of hope sung by the enslaved people before freedom/emancipation. The traditional hymns were introduced in the United States by the Europeans who had settled in North America. (Williams) Slaves were brought from Africa to America by force and were converted to Christianity by their slave owners. Often the owners required slaves to attend church, usually in separate services that were held only for slaves. As the slaves performed backbreaking and monotonous work day in and day out, they began to raise their voices in song. Some slave spirituals began as variations on Christian hymns, but over the years many original compositions were created. Most of these songs were passed down orally, or by word of mouth, since very few slaves had access to methods of writing music. The American slaves were living lives of hopelessness, extreme physical pain, and brutality. Singing was a way of coping with awful circumstances. Their spirituals sang of a beautiful life after death as a way to inspire and uplift each other. (Musician Guide) While “The Piano Lesson” is portrayed years and years after slavery, the connection between African Americans and Christianity is still prevalent and intensely felt throughout the play. Avery, the minister in “The Piano Lesson,” plays an integral role throughout the play representing one of the core themes in the play: