A Musical Journey of the river Nile

AUDIO-VISUAL CONTENT: 200 coloured images, 20 audio selections

An insightful musical and historical presentation, illustrating the original story behind David Fanshawe’s internationally acclaimed composition African Sanctus. This talk is also suitable (in a shortened form) as the first half introductory talk for a concert of African Sanctus. African Sanctus is a choral and archival work; an unorthodox setting of the Latin Mass, harmonised with traditional music recorded by the composer on his now legendary journeys up the river Nile. The work is composed in thirteen movements and reflects geographically the composer’s cross-shaped pilgrimage from the Mediterranean to Lake Victoria.

In this presentation we share the genesis and inspiration behind African Sanctus and learn how the work is constructed; how the African taped music relates to the western choral writing. Using original slides, tapes and sometimes video, David Fanshawe analyses his original recordings and discusses the significance of the diverse musicians he was honoured to meet in Egypt, Sudan, Uganda and Kenya (1969-1973): eg, the Acholi Bwala dancers, Latigo Oteng of Uganda and the nomadic tribes of the Rift Valley. Where a piano is available, Fanshawe workshops movements from African Sanctus and culminates his performance by playing excerpts from the new definitive published recording (Silva)

RECORDINGS FEATURED
Acholi Bwala dance (Uganda) Prayer School (E. Sudan) Hadandua Bazenkop (E. Sudan) Latigo Oteng’s rain song (Uganda) Masai milking song (Kenya) Call to Prayer (Cairo) Courtship dances (W. Sudan) Zande refugees (S. Sudan)	Bunyoro Madinda (Uganda) Luo ritual burial dance (Kenya) Egyptian Wedding (Luxor) Four men on prayer mat (W. Sudan) Dingy Dingy dance (Uganda) Lamentation (Kenya) War Drums (E. Sudan)