Chris JORIS & Daniel SCHELL

"Oratorio ISHANGO"

2003

First Oratorio in African languages

 

Chris Joris & Daniel Schell

With the Namur Symphonic Choir of the French Community of Belgium, conducted by Denis Menier.

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and Fabrice Alleman - sax / Chris Mentens - contrebasse / Ken n’diaye - djembé / Dieudonné Kabongo - tale, likembé / Bawayi Josepha - singing, african drums /  Ben N’gabo - Rwandan drums / Tam Echo Tam, vocals and singing.

 

An oratorio written by guitarist Daniel Schell and percussionist Chris Joris featuring African voices and percussions, a classical choir and some jazz solos.

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A performance featuring music, jazz music, classical choir, dance and story telling about the jungle of Africa (also Bengal), the metaphoric animal short stories, the Ishango bone, as well as political subjects such as the child or the woman of Africa. Musical themes by Chris Joris and/or Daniel Schell.

Choir Music written by Daniel Schell on the text of various poets from Africa - Gcina Mhlophe (South Afrika, in Zulu), Chirikure Chirikure (Zimbabwe, in Shona), Titinga Pacere (Burkina Faso, in More), - and India - Lokenath Bhattacharya (Bengal, in Bengali). Features the Symphonic Choir of Namur (CCFB, 70 chorists) under the direction of Denis Menier.. The percussionist Chris Joris Ensemble with Fabrice Alleman (sax), Chris Menten (bass), Daniel Schell (tap-guitar, Megatar tm, Stick tm, electronics), Dieudonné Kabongo (jembe, story teller), Ken N'Diaye (jembe, story teller), Josephat (singer, dance, jembe).

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The Oratorio Ishango was created in Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels, in November 2001. Then Maison de la Culture d'Arlon, September 2003, Capitole, Ghent November 2003. Théatre St Michel, Brussels, Nov 2003. Zuiderspershuis, Antwerp, December 2003

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