In the Konservatorium on 3 March a new CD of exceptional significance was introduced to the public. It is a recording of Die Kruisiging, the first St. John Passion in Afrikaans, which was composed by Winfried Lüdemann for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017. Martin Berger, Senior Lecturer in Choral Conducting in the Department of Music, was responsible for the recording. The significance of the project lies therein that a professional vocal ensemble in Germany, directed by Berger, joined forces with five experienced South African soloists to record the work. The ensemble AmaCantus rehearsed the numerous choral sections of the work in Afrikaans and then recorded them in Düsseldorf, while the solo sections were recorded simultaneously by the South African singers in Stellenbosch. Dr Gerhard Roux, lecturer in Music Technology in the Music Department, was responsible for the local component of the recording. The final product was put together in Germany and is now being marketed world-wide by the German recording company Guma Records. Charcoal drawings by the Stellenbosch artist and former Matie Ydi Coetsee, which were created specifically for Die Kruisiging, adorn the CD cover and booklet.
At the launch Berger described the CD as an exceptional example of international cooperation in both the artistic and technological fields between Stellenbosch University and leading players in the music industry abroad. He added that the University can be proud to be involved in a project of this magnitude and significance. It illustrates that our expertise is both locally relevant and internationally competitive.
The recording does not only give world-wide exposure and recognition to one of the most extensive sacred works to be composed in Afrikaans to date, but also to Afrikaans as a language of music.
The CD can be acquired for R180 from Fiona Grayer at concerts@sun.ac.za, or tel. 021 808 2358.