Robes, Rhythm, and Ritual: A Literature-Based Analysis of Interpretative Repertoires in Gospel Communities of Musical Practice

This article reframes storefront church gospel Communities of Musical Practice (CoMP) using Pamela J. McKenzie’s interpretative repertoires framework. Drawing on Peyton’s (2023) collective case study of ear-trained musicians across Chicago’s south-side storefront churches, alongside existing gospel scholarship, this literature-based analysis identifies discursive patterns by which gospel practitioners make sense of musical embodiment, sacred space, and collaborative information work. While Peyton’s (2023) study did not directly examine robes or processionals, this review extrapolates from relevant literature and discursive theory to explore their potential function within Collaborative Information Behavior frameworks.