A profound ingredient of African-American faith and culture will be performed with the radiant sounds of a live concert series under the direction of Dr. Raymond Wise in Columbus.

The choral collection, “21 Spirituals for the 21st Century,” will incorporate stories, messages and meanings as arranged and composed by Wise, a locally and nationally-known maestro.

“It is my hope that this collection will help to preserve the cultural and musical heritage of spirituals into the 21st century and beyond,” Wise said. “Moreover, I hope that the ‘God,’ ‘Spirit,’ and ‘message’ within these spirituals will speak to man’s struggle for faith, hope and assurance in the 21st century.”

Oral spirituals became popular and expanded beyond the African-American community primarily during the late 1800s. Fisk Jubilee Singers blended traditional oral spirituals with European choral techniques, refining the musical form known as the concert spiritual.

“This series is not just a concert,” said Mark Lomax, a sophomore in music. “You will get educated on the history of the music itself. This is especially important with spirituals that are getting overlooked or lost. Dr. Wise hopes to preserve their legacy and traditions.”

Since many of these works were arranged for formally trained or musically literate choral groups, they have not been accessible to the average untrained church or community choir that does not read music, or sing with more than three to four parts.

“I hope to preserve the concert spiritual into the 21st century by making them more accessible to people who are not familiar with them,” Wise said. “I want to make them accessible for people to hear and perform.”

Wise said spirituals are important to him because of their rich meaning and passion.

“I am a fourth generation musician, and I have heard this music all of life,” Wise said. “The meanings of the songs have a sense of trial.”

Wise further explained.

“In the 21st century, people are still going through trials and struggles. Music is what slaves sung to get them through. I believe that if we continue to sing, we can make it through as well. By singing the same songs as slaves did, we can get freedom from whatever it is that we are bound to,” Wise said.

Since its inception during the days of slavery, the spiritual has evolved into many forms.

“Dr. Wise has a profound understanding of the music, and his research has added to that,” Lomax said. “He knows how to interpret the music in concert as well as the original intent of worship. He approaches gospel not just as worship, but also as an art form.”

“He demystifies the African American ascetic as it relates to concert music and worship,” Lomax said.

After receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in music from Denison University, studying abroad in Austria and studying at San Francisco State University, Wise was awarded a graduate fellowship from OSU. He earned his master’s in music education and an Ohio teacher’s certification. He also completed a doctorate in music education at OSU.

“Dr. Wise has taught me how to put gospel style singing into an academic context,” said Rebecca Cummings, a senior in vocal performance and marketing. “No one at OSU has been able to teach singers basic vocal technique and classical technique in the context of gospel style music.”

Wise is co-founder and president of Raise Productions and director of the Center for Gospel and Performing Arts in Columbus, Ohio. He is also the director of OSU’s gospel choir.

Wise is an inspiring person of unshakable faith, vision and determination. In addition to being an ordained minister, he has extensively studied music and a veteran composer and director.

“Dr. Wise is not only an outstanding professor of classical music, but he is equally as wonderful in a gospel setting. He is a musical genius,” Cummings said.

Raise chorale will present two performances of the new spirituals arrangements during Black World Month. Each concert will feature 60 singers from the Raise Mass Choir, Denison University Gospel Choir, The Ohio State Gospel Choir and the Columbus community.

The first performance will be at 7 p.m. Saturday in Swasey Chapel at Denison University in Granville. The concert will explore spirituals from a historical and academic perspective. Admission is free.

The second performance will be at 5 p.m. Sunday at Faith Ministries Church, 2747 Agler Rd. This concert will explore spirituals from a religious and worship perspective. Admission is free and an offering will be received.

“As we go from generations years after to another, I have a passion to find ways to preserve this music and share it with future generations who may be inspired by it,” Wise said.