The Passion of St John by Arvo Part

This is a unique opportunity to hear the Pro Cantu Youth Choir perform music that is rarely heard in South Africa

Cape Town based Pro Cantu Youth Choir is tackling their most ambitious project to date: a performance of The Passion of St John by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt.

Pärt is considered one of the pioneers of minimalism along with contemporaries Henryk Górecki and John Tavener.

Pärt calls his style of music “tintinnabulation” (from the Latin tinnabulae - “bells”). The music is characterized by simple harmonies, often single, unadorned notes, or triad chords, which form the basis of western harmony. These are reminiscent of ringing bells. Tintinnabuli works are rhythmically simple, and do not change tempo.

Pärt describes his music thus: "I could compare my music to white light which contains all colours. Only a prism can divide the colours and make them appear; this prism could be the spirit of the listener."

His work “Passio Domini Nostri Jesu Christi secundum Joannem” (The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to John) is a passion cantata for solo baritone (Jesus), solo tenor (Pilate), solo vocal quartet (Evangelist), choir, violin, oboe, cello, bassoon and organ.

The work lasts approximately 70 minutes and utilizes only the Latin text from the Gospel of John, chapters 18 and 19, plus a brief introduction and conclusion.

This work will be performed by acclaimed Pro Cantu Youth Choir, which returned from the World Choir Games in Graz, Austria, having won the title “World Choir Games Champion” after winning one of the Musica Sacra categories.

The role of Jesus is sung by well-known Stellenbosch baritone Andrew Howard. The organ will be played by Mario Nell, lecturer in organ and piano at Stellenbosch University.

The other roles are sung by choir members while the instruments are played by prize winning youth musicians. The conductor is Leon Starker.

The Passion of St John by Arvo Part, performed by the Pro Cantu Youth Choir:

Date: 17 April 2009
Venue: Cape Town City Hall
Time: 20:00
Tickets: R80 adults, R40 students/pensioners*

*Tickets are available at Computicket

This concert will also take place on 19 April at the Endler Hall in Stellenbosch, and on 9 and 10 April at the KKNK festival in Oudtshoorn.

For a monthly selection of excellent things to do in and around Cape Town, subscribe to our Editor’s Picks Newsletter.