Hitting all the right notes after lockdown slammed the key lid on the reach of church choirs, the Algoa Region of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA) plans to usher in Holy Week with a Sacred Cantata on April 2.
The Cantata is titled The Seven Last Words of Christ and is composed by Théodore Dubois.
Music ministry convener Venita van Wyk said she believed that after Covid-19 and the lockdown, which impacted choirs negatively, something needed to be done to get choirs active again.
“For me, the ideal solution was to get choirs from different churches in the UCCSA family together prior to Easter.
“Our SA Synod secretary, the Rev Bertram Swartz, suggested the Cantata focuses on The Seven Last Words of Christ.
“I listened to a few Cantatas with a similar title and decided on this version.
“My choice of music is always guided by the Holy Spirit and this version of the Cantata was what inspired me.”
Van Wyk said 10 choirs of the 27 Congregational churches would take part in the Easter Cantata.
“It took hard work but between 100 and 150 choristers came from as far as Hankey, Jeffreys Bay and Humansdorp to attend rehearsals in Gqeberha and Kariega.
“Most of the solo pieces are for the tenor and baritone voices.
“Soloists are not professional singers, but because we want to develop young talent, we have identified a few of them to sing solos.”
She hoped the Cantata on Palm Sunday would set the tone for Holy Week.
“I hope the message of the Cantata will be a reminder of the ultimate sacrifice Christ made on the cross of Calvary.”
Algoa Region Mission Council convener Marvin Draai said the church’s music ministry had always been active having had choir festivals and Sacred Cantatas at local churches over the years.
“Covid-19 has significantly damaged that, and this Cantata, being around our most sacred period of the church, is also a rebirth of our music ministry and to express our commitment to it.
“As part of our Lent period, we are committing ourselves to the last seven words of Christ and to live out the ministry of bringing lost souls to the church and healing them from the wounds inflicted by the world,” Draai said.
Van Wyk will be accompanied by organists Romano Jonathan and Amanda Engelbrecht.
The Cantata starts at 3pm at the Weis Memorial Congregational Church in Schauderville.
Tickets cost R50 per person.
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