wfn.org | Choirs of the World to Sing in Bethlehem Christmas Eve 1999

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@wfn.org>]

THE  BETHLEHEM 2000 PROJECT
Contact: MARIAM SHAHIN <MSHAHIN@BETHLEHEM2000.ORG

News Brief  # 15

The Bethlehem 2000 Project News Brief, Vol. 2; No.15, Sept. 6, 1999

To celebrate Christmas Eve 1999 in Bethlehem six international choirs,
two Palestinian choirs and one American soul singer will join
Palestinians and their guests in celebrating the last Christmas of this
millennium.

The following choirs will perform in Manger Square on Christmas Eve 1999

Muugano National Choir, Kenya

The Muugano National Choir was founded by conductor and composer
Boniface Mganga in Kenya in 1979. The choir sings a capella, though
occasionally their components make use of drums, kayamba (reed rattle)
and triangle accompaniment. Its repertoire ranges from Kenyan tribal
songs to Christmas songs as well as Western music and even African pop.
Nonetheless, it is the Choir's recorded version of the African mass
Missa Luba that  has made the Muugano National Choir a world-renowned
ensemble. Missa Luba, written by a Belgium Catholic priest in the Congo,
has become an African spiritual anthem.

Liz McComb, Gospel Singer, USA

Like Aretha Franklin before her, Liz Mc Comb was born the daughter of a
preacher. It was at the gatherings in the Pentecostal Church of her
native Ohio that Liz McComb's distinctive style first began to develop.
The Pentecostal Church is the  branch of American Protestantism noted
for its frenzied rhythms and joyful chants. It is through her rhythms
that Liz McComb hypnotizes her   audiences. Her career has been
unanimously acclaimed, particularly in Europe, where she has been
credited with the revival and newfound popularity that  Gospel and Negro
Spirituals are enjoying. She currently resides in France.

Coro Nacional de Cuba, Cuba

Founded in 1981 by Digna Guerra Ramrez, the Coro Nacional de Cuba is a
mixed chamber Choir with a varied repertoire consisting of:  Spanish,
Italian and English Renaissance polyphony, Negro Spirituals,
contemporary music,  and Latin-American and Cuban folklore. The Coro
Nacional de Cuba or Coro Entrevoces has become one of the most
sought-out ensembles in Latin-America. Apart from its participation in
festivals (recently, the Choir was laureate of the German
Lindenholzhausen Festival). The Coro Nacional de Cuba appears regularly
on Cuban TV and takes part in soundtrack recordings for the cinema.

Coro Misto da Covilh Portuguese Choir and Orchestra

The 80-member Coro Misto da Covilh with the accompaniment of their
Orchestra will perform its Christmas Oratorio, under the direction of
conductor Luis Cipriano. Christmas Eve in Bethlehem will be the
Oratorio's world premiere. The Coro Misto da Covilh is celebrated =
for the range and quality of its voices.

Tschaikovsky Municipal Choir, Izhevsk\Russia

Founded in 1992 the Tshaikovsky Municipal Choir first started rehearsing
at The Musical Society of the Udmurt Republic with a repertoire that
included both foreign and Russian musicians, paying particular attention
to composers from the Udmurt Republic. The Choir, often accompanied by
an orchestra, has taken part in various festivals, such as Marktoberdorf
in Germany, Europa Cantata in Denmark, and the VI International
Contest in Athens, Greece. In the latter, the Tshaikovsky Municipal
Choir was awarded several prizes. The Choir also took the lead in
conducting the music festival devoted to the 200th anniversary of Franz
Schubert, and performed his greatest Choral work.

Master's Voice, Sweden

Founded in 1988 at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm, Master's
Voice consists of 27 professional singers from different Christian
communities. Master's Voice is a leader among the European Gospel
Choirs. The Master's Voice Choir likes to describe itself as a "very
dynamic and humble Choir with a united goal: to sing the gospel of
Christ". Under the direction of Maria Sandell, the Choir regularly
appears on Swedish TV.

Bible College Choir, Bethlehem

The Bible College Choir is part of the Bethlehem Bible College,
established in 1979 to train and prepare its students to be servants for
the  Palestinian community and its churches. The Choir itself
exemplifies a strong social and religious commitment to service. Its
distinctive Middle East style, its repertoire of music from the historic
churches, as well as contemporary Arab Christian music, is a  testimony
to the hardships and transformations undergone by the Palestinian
people. The Bible College Choir has also made several international
tours.

Ud Alnad Byzantine Choral Group, Nazareth

Ud Alnad Byzantine Choral Group was founded in Nazareth in 1994 under
the direction of its present-day conductor, Kati Jarjura.  The Choral
Group has won important international awards and distinctions for it's
Byzantine music. Its presence in Bethlehem on this Christmas Eve is
particularly important because of the special relationship between
Nazareth and Bethlehem.

Kantorei Choir, Germany

The Kantorei Choir was founded and is directed by Professor
Volker Hempfling, a remarkable researcher, organist and Kantor of the
Evangelic Cathedral as well as Director of the Domkantorei in Altenberg,
Germany. The Kantorei's repertoire is focused in choral music
from the Romantic period and the 20th century. Since 1986 the Choir has
been performing  throughout Germany and European countries. The Choir
took part in the celebrations of the 10th Anniversary of the fall of the
Berlin Wall and the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of the German
Federal Republic.