African Sanctus – Music Summary

African Sanctus is a universal work whose impact is immediate, whose

message is simple, the driving force is one of Praise and a firm believe in One
Music - One God. It informs both listener and performer about African music
and its relationship to Western polyphony and captures the eternal and
spiritual soul of music. It is an event, a celebration of power and energy, both
visual, aural and multi-cultural, now performed live all over the world. For
David Fanshawe there are no musical barriers.

African Sanctus is an unorthodox setting of the Latin Mass harmonised with

traditional African music recorded by the composer on his now legendary
journeys up the River Nile (1969-73). The taped music from Egypt, Sudan,
Uganda and Kenya is heard in counterpoint with the live chorus, soprano
soloist and instrumental ensemble. The work is composed in 13 movements
and reflects geographically the composer’s cross-shaped pilgrimage, from the
Mediterranean to Lake Victoria, whereby Kyrie represents Cairo and Sanctus
Northern Uganda.

1. AFRICAN SANCTUS
Acholi Bwala dance, North Uganda
2. KYRIE: CALL TO PRAYER
Mu'azzin from the Muhammad Ali Mosque, Cairo
3. GLORIA: BRIDE OF THE NILE
Egyptian wedding, Luxor
Islamic prayer school, East Sudan
4. CREDO: SUDANESE DANCES
Courtship dances, Kiata trumpet dance
Koranic recitations, Marra mountains
5. LOVE SONG: PIANO SOLO
 Hadandua cattle boy with Bazenkop harp
Desert bells, East Sudan
6. ET IN SPIRITUM SANCTUM
Frogs, Zande refugees of South Sudan
7. CRUCIFIXUS: RAIN SONG
Dingi Dingi dance, rains & thunder
"Rain Song" by Latigo Oteng, Uganda
8. SANCTUS: BWALA DANCE
Bunyoro madinda xylophone
Acholi Bwala dance, Uganda
9. THE LORD'S PRAYER
Lamentation, Lake Kyoga, Uganda
The Offertory (in English)
10. CHANTS
Masai milking song, Kenya
Song of the river, Karamoja, Uganda
Turkana cattle song, Luo ritual burial dance, Kenya
11. AGNUS DEI
Hadandua war drums in the desert, Sudan
12. CALL TO PRAYER: KYRIE (reprise)
Mu'azzin from the Muhammad Ali Mosque, Cairo
13. FINALE & GLORIA
Acholi Bwala dance, North Uganda

* (optional)
DONA NOBIS PACEM
A Hymn for World Peace
(short or long version)

Text of the composed music taken from the Latin Mass and Anglican Liturgy
(The Lord's Prayer).
Field recordings made by the composer in Egypt, Sudan, Uganda and Kenya
(1969-73).