King's Vibrato: Modernism, Blackness, and the Sonic Life of Martin Luther King Jr.

Maurice O. Wallace's "Kings Vibrato" explores the sonic character of Martin Luther King Jr.'s voice and its power to move the world, examining the cultural history and critical theory of black modernist soundscapes. He highlights the acoustical architectures of African American churches, the influence of gospel on King, and the unique variations in natural environments and sound amplifications during his "I Have a Dream" speeches.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 14 July 2022
Publisher: Duke University Press

Maurice O. Wallace's book "Kings Vibrato" delves into the sonic qualities of Martin Luther King Jr.'s voice and its impact on the world. Through a cultural history and critical theory of black modernist soundscapes, Wallace explores the various factors that shaped King's vocal timbre, including ecclesial architecture and acoustics, musical instrumentation and sound technology, audience and song. He examines the acoustical architectures of African American churches where King spoke, highlighting the centrality of the pipe organ, and offers a black feminist critique of the influence of gospel on King's speeches. Wallace also outlines how natural environments and sound amplifications affected each of King's three deliveries of the "I Have a Dream" speech, making each unique. By mapping the vocal timbre of one of the most significant figures in black hope and protest in American history, Wallace presents King as the embodiment of the sound of modern black thought.

Weight: 538g
Dimension: 150 x 230 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478018407