32 Galliard Spirituals has been compiled by June Boyce-Tillman after working for many years with children and adults of all races and creeds.

In the collection, she traces through the songs the authentic record of how the Negro community thought, felt and managed to survive in 18th century Maryland and 19th century Louisiana on the hope of freedom still echoed in Dr Martin Luther King’s famous “I have a dream” speech.

The songs are not only history but they are amongst the most moving an...