Sedibeng Sings Classics At Maitisong
Lovers of classical music converged on Maitisong Hall, Maruapula, to witness Sedibeng Choral Society perform Joseph Hayden’s Creation.
While the conductor and the founder of the choir Andy Batshogile admitted that they had some challenges preparing for the concert, the crowd, was nonetheless impressed.
All in all, Sedibeng, clad in maroon and black, presented 30-pieces reaching the finale with the only Setswana piece Magodimo a supa kganya ya Modimo (The heavens are telling). In the first part of the evening, the following pieces were performed, In the beginning, Now banish before the holy beams, Despairing cursing rage, And God made the firmament, The marv’lous work, And God said, Let the waters, Rolling in foaming billows, And God said, Let the earth, With Verdue clad, And the heavenly host, Awake the harp, And God said, Let there be lights, In splendor bright and The Heavens are telling. For the second and final part the choir presented And God said, Let the waters, On mighty pens, And God created great whales, And the angels, Most beautiful appear, The Lord is great, And God said, Let the earth bring forth, Straight opening, Now heaven in fullest glory shone, and God created man, In native worth, And God saw everything that he had made, Achieved is the glorious work, On thee each living souls awaits and Achieved is the glorious work before the finale, Magodimo a supa kganya ya Modimo. Some of those who performed solos at the event included Oteng Zachriah, Tebogo Dire, Lenny Magowe, Palesa Bogopa, Dianah Johane, Tebogo Kebakile, Tumelo Swele, Ralph Dennison and Onneile Maje who are all vocalists of note. According to the organisers, The Creation is an oratorio written by Joseph Hayden between 1796 and 1798 to celebrate the creation of the universe as depicted in the book of Genesis in the Holy Bible. According to the biography of Hayden, he was a deeply religious man who concluded all his compositions with Praise to God. It is said that when commenting on the challenges that he faced when working on the composition that is in three parts he said, “Never before was I so devout as, when I composed The Creation. Everyday I fell on my knees to pray to God to give me strength.
One of the things worth mentioning about the event is that Batswana were well represented, indicating that more locals are beginning to appreciate the genre. Another interesting thing about the concert was that almost half of the revellers were in their youth. It is common knowledge that mostly elderly people appreciate classical music.
Among the young revellers were teenagers Moagi Koneke, a student at Gaborone Secondary School and Kgomotso Kamogelo from St Joseph’s College.
“Sedibeng is one of the best choirs in the country and their music is splendid. I am only worried that they did not include marabi this time around,” commented the youthful Kooreke.
“We love choral music because it is mature. As an aspiring singer myself, I hope to emulate some of Sedibeng soloists one day,” said Kamogelo.
The two youngsters commented that since classical music concerts are attended by mature and collected people, that helps keep young people like them away from substance abuse and delinquency that is rife at entertainment joints frequented by young people.
Like Kooreke, some of Sedibeng’s fans expressed disappointment that the choir did not perform folk songs but Batshogile had earlier explained that they were planning another concert to cater for the genre.
This year’s concert was sponsored by, among others, BDF Women’s Club, Tiki Architects, Sunday Standard, Riverwalk, Performance Resources, Mosienyane and Partners International and David Slater Music. Part of the proceeds will go to the Sponsor-a-Child Trust Fund.
Next year, Sedibeng Choral Society will present Pirates of Penzance.
Via Mmegi
