Ndisondela kuwe (Xhosa church chorus)
from Raising the Bar: Traditional South African Choral Music II by Created by Mollie Stone & Patty Cuyler
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about
Ndisondela kuwe is a beautiful church chorus that has become very popular in South Africa. In this song, one can really hear the fusion of western hymnody with South African singing traditions.
The original hymn was probably quite close to the notes that are sung in Ndisondela kuwe, but the hymn has been changed into a chorus with the addition of the call-and-response elements threaded throughout the texture of the song.
While the accompanying dance movement is one of the simplest, most straightforward South African movements, it in fact adds a very non-western, subtle complexity to the song. The hymn is in 3-4 time, but the dance creates a feeling of two-against-three. The most important beats of the movement are when the right foot moves forward and then back, forward and then back. The interplay between these meters should not be accented, but remain relaxed and subtle.
The original hymn was probably quite close to the notes that are sung in Ndisondela kuwe, but the hymn has been changed into a chorus with the addition of the call-and-response elements threaded throughout the texture of the song.
While the accompanying dance movement is one of the simplest, most straightforward South African movements, it in fact adds a very non-western, subtle complexity to the song. The hymn is in 3-4 time, but the dance creates a feeling of two-against-three. The most important beats of the movement are when the right foot moves forward and then back, forward and then back. The interplay between these meters should not be accented, but remain relaxed and subtle.
lyrics
I will draw near to you
I will praise you
Lord, God, most holy
You deserve the praise
Amen....alleluiah
I will praise you
Lord, God, most holy
You deserve the praise
Amen....alleluiah
credits
from Raising the Bar: Traditional South African Choral Music II,
released April 15, 2015
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all rights reserved
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