The Concert Choir of the Northfield Youth Choirs will join the Carleton College Singers and the Carleton Choir in two performances of
David Fanshawe's "African Sanctus" on Saturday, May 23, at 3 and 8 p.m., in the Carleton Concert Hall. Fanshawe, a composer, explorer and
ethnomusicologist, will be in residence at Carleton, May 18-23, as the 35th annual Ward Lucas Lecturer in the Arts. During his stay, he will oversee the
production of "African Sanctus," give a public lecture, deliver Friday's convocation address, visit classes, and meet with students and faculty in small groups.
Fanshawe will discuss "One World?One Music" at Carleton's weekly convocation on Friday, May 22, at 10:50 a.m. in the Concert Hall. On Thursday, May 21, at 2:30 p.m. in Carleton's Music Hall, room 103, Fanshawe will talk about "African Sanctus" and his legendary journey along the river Nile to record music used in the work.
The Fanshawe events are free and open to the public. However, tickets are required for admission to the concerts on Saturday. Tickets may be picked up in
Carleton's Sayles-Hill Great Space from 2-4 p.m., Thurs.-Fri., May 21-22, or may be reserved by calling 800-449-7787.
Hailed by The Washington Post as "a very engrossing, musically rewarding piece," "African Sanctus" is a 13-movement work that blends music from the Latin Mass and Anglican Liturgy with traditional African music recorded by Fanshawe as he traveled up the river Nile during the early 1970s. The work is scored for solo soprano, mixed chorus and a live ensemble, including piano, percussion, electric organ and guitar.
Carleton's performance of "African Sanctus" features the Carleton Singers and the Carleton Choir, led by Lawrence Burnett, associate professor of music; the Concert Choir of the Northfield Youth Choirs, an auditioned group of boys and girls in grades six through eight led by musical director Cora Scholz; soprano Margaret Brand, a lecturer in voice at Carleton; and guest artist Sowah Mensah, an African drummer.
A native of England, Fanshawe was educated at St. George's Choir School and the Royal College of Music. His ambition to combine composition with the recording of indigenous folk music has led to travels in Arabia, Africa and the Pacific, and his highly original works have been the focus of award-winning documentary films, including the BBC's filming of "African Sanctus."
Fanshawe's travels have resulted in a monumental archive of over 2,000 stereo tapes, 1,000 boxes of slides and 40 volumes of handwritten journals, preserving and documenting the music and oral traditions of Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia. His concert works include "Fantasy on Dover Castle," "Requiem for the Children of Aberfan," "The Awakening" and "Romanza Burlesque," among others.
The Ward Lucas Lectureship in the Arts, endowed by friends and family of the late Ward Lucas of Winona, Minn., provides for a series of public lectures in any of the creative arts by individuals who have distinguished themselves in their fields. Ward Lucas was a member of the Carleton College Board of Trustees for 20 years prior to his death in 1961. Previous Lucas Lecturers have included poet and author Margaret Atwood, film producer Ismail Merchant and playwright Tony Kushner.