Malvern St James pupils perform African Sanctus concert (From Malvern Gazette)

Malvern St James pupils perform African Sanctus concert

11:51am Monday 8th February 2010

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MORE than 30 years after receiving its first full public performance at the Three Choirs Festival in Worcester, the internationally renowned ‘African Sanctus’ concert is returning to the county for a performance at Malvern St James school.

The concert, on Saturday, February 27, will reunite Dr Fanshawe with Donald Hunt, leader of the Elgar Chorale, who was responsible for conducting the original 1978 performance at the Three Choirs Festival.

African Sanctus juxtaposes the Latin Mass with live recordings of traditional African music, which were taken by Dr Fanshawe as he journeyed along the River Nile.

The original performance was met with much opposition from people who saw it as breaking with Three Choirs tradition and being too commercial. However it was ultimately a triumph, delighting a packed Cathedral, and has since been performed throughout the UK and worldwide to international acclaim.

The concert at Malvern St James takes place at 7.30pm, and will see Dr Hunt conducting the Elgar Chorale, who will be joined by the MSJ Singers.

As a special introduction to the performance in Malvern the Chorale and MSJ Singers will be singing a short selection of music from South Africa.

Dr Fanshawe will also play No.5 Piano Solo and give an introductory ‘Welcome to African Sanctus’.

Dr Hunt believes the concert will be a hugely rewarding experience for the MSJ pupils involved.

“Performing in African Sanctus is a wonderful experience for youngsters, giving them a glimpse of a dying culture in that wonderful continent,” he said. “The work is not only unique in construction, combining as it does indigenous African with Western music, but also is a sort of musical travelogue, and is of immense historical value.”

Tickets cost £12 (students £6) from 01684 564609 or music@malvernstjames.co.uk

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