Julia Werthimer wrote:

>I'm sorry, butI simply can't stand the way Battle and Norman sing
>spirituals.  I know you are an expert on church music, Kevin; but I would
>plead that spirituals are not simply church music: they are a form of folk
>music as well.  And I don't think opera singers can do justice to that
>aspect of the spiritual.

Hummmm.  I think we have now hit on a simple matter of taste and opinion
and should agree to disagree.  I don't have a problem with either Battle
or Norman's singing of spirituals, but I can see where others would not
care for it.

>Paul Robeson is a special case; I grew up loving his records as a child.
>But I don't think one should overlook the contribution of Lawrence Brown
>(have I got the name right?).  He brought a more rhythmic element into
>those recordings from which Robeson benefited IMHO.

I am not qualified to comment on that. Anyone else?

Kevin