Spiritual is a type of religious song made famous by the blacks of the Southern United States.
Spirituals are emotional songs and have a strong rhythm.
They are especially moving when sung by a group. A leader sometimes sings one or two lines alone, and a chorus comes in with the refrain. Spiritual singers often emphasize the rhythm by clapping their hands. The melodies used in spirituals are sometimes said to have originated in Africa. However, many spirituals are unrelated to African songs.