As an elementary music teacher that grew up in the church, I was surprised by the lack of historical research regarding the music chosen in this movie. Within 20 minutes, discrepancies musically began that bothered me as a music educator. The fact that John Newtons betrothed sang It Is Well in the church after leaning that her love would travel to Africa is completely impossible given that the year was 1748 and the song wasn't written until the late 1800's. I know this partially because of my childhood in the church and the fact that I later moved to Chicago as a young adult. The song was penned after the the great Chicago Fire, as a young lawyer lost much including his song.
Later, in 1856, as Cuba Goodings character is met by their second encounter, a duo sing I'm ON My Way (to Canaans Land), I am once again disappointed by The lack of historical accuracy as this song was penned by the great Mahalia Jackson. She wasn't born until 1911 (died 1972 in Illinois). Additionally, the song Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child is sung as a young boy's mother passes on the slave ship. This song wasn't composed until the late 1800's.
I can certainly understand the connections that these songs have in context to the movie. However, asa music history buff, they are plenty of historical songs that could have been easily used to convey the same message. Was there no one that could simply give this information ,that is so easily available, to the film people to provide a bit more accuracy to the film?
Later, in 1856, as Cuba Goodings character is met by their second encounter, a duo sing I'm ON My Way (to Canaans Land), I am once again disappointed by The lack of historical accuracy as this song was penned by the great Mahalia Jackson. She wasn't born until 1911 (died 1972 in Illinois). Additionally, the song Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child is sung as a young boy's mother passes on the slave ship. This song wasn't composed until the late 1800's.
I can certainly understand the connections that these songs have in context to the movie. However, asa music history buff, they are plenty of historical songs that could have been easily used to convey the same message. Was there no one that could simply give this information ,that is so easily available, to the film people to provide a bit more accuracy to the film?