African Sanctus is a universal work whose impact is immediate, whose message is simple, the driving force is one of Praise and a firm believe in One Music - One God. It informs both listener and performer about African music and its relationship to Western polyphony and captures the eternal and spiritual soul of music. It is an event, a celebration of power and energy, both visual, aural and multi-cultural, now performed live all over the world. For David Fanshawe there are no musical barriers.
African Sanctus is an unorthodox setting of the Latin Mass harmonised with traditional African music recorded by the composer on his now legendary journeys up the River Nile (1969-73). The taped music from Egypt, Sudan, Uganda and Kenya is heard in counterpoint with the live chorus, soprano soloist and instrumental ensemble. The work is composed in 13 movements and reflects geographically the composer’s cross-shaped pilgrimage, from the Mediterranean to Lake Victoria, whereby Kyrie represents Cairo and Sanctus Northern Uganda.
- AFRICAN SANCTUS
Acholi Bwala dance, North Uganda - KYRIE: CALL TO PRAYER
Mu'azzin from the Muhammad Ali Mosque, Cairo - GLORIA: BRIDE OF THE NILE
Egyptian wedding, Luxor
Islamic prayer school, East Sudan - CREDO: SUDANESE DANCES
Courtship dances, Kiata trumpet dance
Koranic recitations, Marra mountains - LOVE SONG: PIANO SOLO
Hadandua cattle boy with Bazenkop harp
Desert bells, East Sudan - ET IN SPIRITUM SANCTUM
Frogs, Zande refugees of South Sudan - CRUCIFIXUS: RAIN SONG
Dingi Dingi dance, rains & thunder
"Rain Song" by Latigo Oteng, Uganda - SANCTUS: BWALA DANCE
Bunyoro madinda xylophone
Acholi Bwala dance, Uganda - THE LORD'S PRAYER
Lamentation, Lake Kyoga, Uganda
The Offertory (in English) - CHANTS
Masai milking song, Kenya
Song of the river, Karamoja, Uganda
Turkana cattle song, Luo ritual burial dance, Kenya - AGNUS DEI
Hadandua war drums in the desert, Sudan - CALL TO PRAYER: KYRIE (reprise)
Mu'azzin from the Muhammad Ali Mosque, Cairo - FINALE & GLORIA
Acholi Bwala dance, North Uganda
- (optional)
DONA NOBIS PACEM
A Hymn for World Peace
(short or long version)
Text of the composed music taken from the Latin Mass and
Anglican Liturgy (The Lord's Prayer).
Field recordings made by the composer in Egypt, Sudan, Uganda and
Kenya (1969-73).