An Impact of Choirs March 2021

 

GEELONG MUSIC GROUP March 2021 An Impact of Choirs

 

Total: 52 minutes Run with minimal break and minimal commentary!   I dislike (western) operas because I find the operatic voice grating. However, I find that this abrasive quality is mellowed when there are large numbers of singers in a choir. Add in a good helping of reverb to the recordings and you have some very fine sounds!   Recently, I've been listening to Russian church choir music (as you do) and I've been taken aback by the sheer impact of these choirs. I've also been listening to other forms of choral music, and I hope that the session has an equivalent impact on you - even if you don't like choral music!   To maximise the impact of choirs, I'll just play the music, with minimal commentary. So this won't be one of my little seminars - stop that applause - but at the end I'll distribute a handout listing the tracks.   A thread running through the presentation is The St. Petersburg Chamber Choir conducted by Nikolai Korniev and recorded in 1996. This is their "Alleluia, Behold the Bridegroom” (Anon. 18th century), followed by "We praise Thee" from Sergei Rachmaninoff's Vespers   1."Alleluia, Behold the Bridegroom” Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom Opus 41 (Anon. 18th century) 1996 5.07 The St. Petersburg Chamber Choir conducted by Nikolai Korniev (1996) Sacred Choral Music from Russia. Universal International Music.   2. "We praise Thee: Tebe poem" Vespers (Sergei Rachmaninoff) 1996 3.33 The St. Petersburg Chamber Choir conducted by Nikolai Korniev (1996)   N. B. Track 3 is louder than tracks 1 and 2; after the first verse is a short pause, then the rousing, 2-verse finale! Sometimes, the impact of a piece of choral music is increased by knowing its social and historical context.. “Nkosi Sikelela” was the unofficial Xhosa 'anthem' of the movement against apartheid and especially of the African National Congress; now, it's part of the national anthem of South Africa. 3. Gospel Train (2012) “Nkosi Sikelela” ShoSholoza! 3.08 Run on to Tracks 4 and 5   4. "Bogoroditse Devo" (Alexander Yegorov) 2.40 The St. Petersburg Chamber Choir conducted by Nikolai Korniev (1996)   5. "Slava v vishnikh Bogu" Vespers (Sergei Rachmaninoff) 2.57 The St. Petersburg Chamber Choir conducted by Nikolai Korniev (1994)   Track 6 is louder than 5. Gender can give a familiar song a different impact. 6. Women of the Calabash (1998) “Nkosi Sikelela” 2.36 The Kwanzaa Album Bermuda Reefs Records.   Sometimes, the impact of a piece of choral music is increased by knowing about the choir that sings it. You may know the next song, but how you hear it may be affected by knowing who's singing it - in this case, the London Gay Men's Chorus  from 2006. 7. London Gay Men's Chorus (2006) "Stand by your man" Showtime LGMC. 3.53 (Approx. 30secs of applause follows.)   8. "Deva dnes" (Anon.) 3.07 The St. Petersburg Chamber Choir conducted by Nikolai Korniev (1996)   And now for something completely different: a Welsh male voice choir sings the unofficial anthem of the African National Congress! 9. Cor Godre'r Aran (2003) “Nkosi Sikelela” 3.36 Byd o Heddwch (World in Union) Sain (Recordiau) Cyf. Historically, Welsh male voice choirs had strong links to the labour party and the trade unions - especially the miners' union; in South Africa, the miners' union was at the heart of the fight against apartheid.     In 1963, 15-year old Little Peggy March had a number one hit in the USA with "I will follow him". Once again, the impact of a song can depend on who sings it - in this case, the London Gay Men's Chorus from 2005. 10. London Gay Men's Chorus (2005) "I will follow him" 3.47 Moving Ahead (Live at the Queen Elizabeth Hall) London Gay Men's Chorus.   Here's a very fine version of an old favourite by the St. Petersburg Chamber Choir conducted by Nikolai Korniev. 11. "Stille nacht" (Franz Gruber) 3.15 The St. Petersburg Chamber Choir conducted by Nikolai Korniev (1996)   (Track 12 is louder than Track 11.) 12. Ladysmith Black Mambazo (2014) “Nkosi Sikelela” 3.31 Africa in Harmony Gallo record Co. (Orig. 1990) After an introductory "Nkosi", they sing "Shosholoza". Sung originally by groups of Ndebele men travelling by steam train from their homes in Zimbabwe (Rhodesia) to work in South Africa's diamond and gold mines, "Shosholoza" is sung now to show solidarity in national events and to express hope and solidarity in times of hardship and distress.   In 1997, the group Aqua had a disco hit with "Barbie Girl". I have the original! (hold up the CD). I'll leave you to appreciate the impact of this version by the London Gay Men's Chorus in 2006. 13. London Gay Men’s Chorus (2006) "Barbie Girl" 3.20 From the Ritz to the Anchor & Crown LGMC.   And finally .... when the politics and the singing come together, the impact of choirs is enormous. This is an unnamed choir of women in 2008 celebrating the centenary of women's suffrage in Victoria. I think that I've played this before, but it bears repeating - especially this week. 14. "Love and Justice" (2008) (K. Mazzella) 6.38 400 women celebrate the centenary of women's suffrage in Victoria. Commissioned by Mary Crooks for the Victorian Women's Trust. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HpCmdLRuF8   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HpCmdLRuF8

 

"Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika"

1	XHOSA	Nikosi Sikelel'i iAfrica Maluphakanyisw' uphondo lwayo
	ZULU	Yizwa imithandazo yethu Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo	Hear our petitions Lord bless us, your children
2	SESOTHO	Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho O se boloke, O se belkoke sethaba sa heso Setjaba sa, Soyj Afrika, South Afrika	Lord we ask You to protect our nation Intervene and end all conflicts Protect us, protect our nation, Protect South Africa, Protect South Africa
3	AFRIKAANS	Uit die blou van onse hemel Uit die diepte van ons see Oor ons ewige gebergtes Waar die kranse antwoord gee	Out of the blue of our heavens From the depths of our seas Over everlasting mountains Where the echoing crags resound
4	ENGLISH		Sounds the call to come together And united we shall stand Let us live and strive for freedom In South Africa our land

 

Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika.

During South Africa's apartheid regime (late 1940s to early 1990s), its national anthem was the Afrikaans language "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika (aka "Die Stem"), that chronicled the Voortrekkers' "Great Trek". Until 1957, "Die Stem" was the country's co–national anthem with "God Save The King/Queen"; in 1957 it became the sole national anthem.

 

In the early 1990s, "Die Stem" was joined as co-national anthem by "Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika", a Xhosa-language song that became an anthem of the anti-apartheid movement. In 1994, both songs were adopted as dual national anthems and sung at Nelson Mandela's inauguration as President. In early 1997, the two anthems were merged and abridged. The verse in Afrikaans was included at Mandela's insistance as a gesture of reconciliation.

 

 

Shosholoza

"Shosholoza" was sung originally by groups of Ndebele men as they travelled by steam train from their homes in Zimbabwe (known formerly as Rhodesia) to work in South Africa's diamond and gold mines. The song mixes Ndebele and Zulu words - the two ethnic groups are very closely related.

 

Workers later sang the song to generate rhythm during work and to alleviate boredom and stress. The song was usually sung to express the hardship of working in the mines. Shosholoza or "tshotsholoza!" is an Ndebele term meaning go forward or make way for the next man. It encourages the workers, generating solidarity and hope.

 

Currently, "Shosholoza" is sung in varied contexts in South Africa to show solidarity in sporting events and other national events to convey messages of hope and solidarity in times of hardship and distress (e.g. team-building for athletes during competitions).