/EINPresswire.com/ CLEVELAND, OHIO. Jonathan Willcocks of London, England, to guest-conduct David Fanshawe’s African Sanctus at Tapestry peace concert
Faith Lutheran Church, Lakewood, Ohio, and Duffy Liturgical Dance Ensemble, Shaker Hts., Ohio, with Fresh Moves, will perform David Fanshawe’s African Sanctus under the direction of guest conductor Jonathan Willcocks of London, England, on Friday, Sept. 16 and Saturday, Sept. 18
CLEVELAND, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 2, 2011– Tapestry: A Concert for World Peace intends to inspire a new movement of peace through two performances of the late David Fanshawe’s multi-cultural and multi-media African Sanctus.
Jonathan Willcocks of London, England, will serve as guest conductor of the performances on Friday, Sept. 16, at Faith Lutheran Church in Lakewood and on Sunday, Sept. 18, at St. John AME Church in Cleveland. Tickets are $10. Jonathan will also conduct a choral music workshop at Grace Lutheran Church, Cleveland Hts., on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 11 am to 1 pm.
Willcocks will direct performers from Faith Lutheran Church (ELCA) of Lakewood, Ohio; Duffy Liturgical Dance/Music Studio of Shaker Heights, Ohio, and guest musicians as they perform African Sanctus and its later addition, Dona Nobis Pacem: A Hymn for World Peace.
Fanshawe’s music challenges performers and audiences to move, as a community and as a nation, from a numbing concentration on war and violence toward the hope of world peace. It confronts the distressing sounds and reports of wars, social injustices, racism, civil unrest, human rights violations and inhumane atrocities that echo throughout a world that thirsts for peace, justice and tolerance in our time.
In the early 1970s, Fanshawe journeyed through Africa, recording tribal music and photographing the performers. AFRICAN SANCTUS combines these recordings and juxtaposes them with Fanshawe’s unorthodox music setting of texts of the traditional Latin Mass, borrowing from the unique melodies and electrifying rhythms of the African music.
Tapestry will begin this movement of peace, hope and reconciliation with music, liturgical dance and visual arts by urging audiences to re-focus attention, energies, lives, and souls on creating peace, social justice, and tolerance in our time.
Recognizing that “people of African descent represent a distinct group whose human rights must be promoted and protected,” the concert also commemorates the United Nations General Assembly’s resolution, proclaiming 2011 the “International Year for People of African Descent.”
The Northeastern Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America likewise has, by resolution, adopted this theme at its assembly in May.
In the shadows of the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attack on the United States, Tapestry is performed also in remembrance of the victims of that tragic event.
Tickets may be purchased online at https://www.wepay.com/tickets/AfricanSanctus or by calling (216) 921-0734 or (216) 226-6500.
The Sept. 16 performance at Faith Lutheran Church begins at 8 p.m. Faith is located at 16511 Hilliard Road (at Woodward Avenue) in Lakewood.
The Sept. 18 performance at St. John AME Church begins at 7 p.m. St. John is located at 2261 E. 40th Street (at Central Avenue) in Cleveland.
Choral directors, choristers church and school musicians are encouraged to attend. Registration includes a packet of Jonathan Willcocks’ choral arrangements and lunch. Call (216) 921-0734 to register or for information.
Jonathan Willcocks is conductor of the Portsmouth Choral Union, the Chichester Singers and the professional chamber orchestra Southern Pro Musica of London, England. Kent Cicerchi is director of music at Faith Lutheran Church, Lakewood, Ohio. Edna Duffy is artistic director of Duffy Liturgical Dance Ensemble, Shaker Heights, Ohio. Robby Cecil is director-choreographer of Fresh Moves.
Funded in part by the George Gund Foundation and the Ohio Arts Council.
Contact: Kent Cicerchi
Phone: (216) 226-6500
Email: music@faithlakewood.org
Website: www.faithlakewood.org
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