Three Beautiful Offerings from the Stellenbosch University Choir, South Africa

The Stellenbosch University Choir is a choir affiliated with Stellenbosch University. Founded in 1936, it is the oldest choir in South Africa. The choir is viewed as a leading South African choral ensemble and has toured overseas extensively where it has won critical acclaim for its performances. The current conductor, André van der Merwe, was appointed at the beginning of 2003. Currently the US Choir is ranked number 1 on the Interkultur World Ranking List of the top 1000 international choirs.

Baba, Yetu, Composter, Christopher Tin, arranged by André van der Merwe. The Lord’s Prayer sun in Swahili.

Baba yetu, yetu uliye (Our, our Father who are) Mbinguni yetu, yetu, amina (In heaven, our, our, amen) Baba yetu, yetu, uliye (Our, our Father, who are) Jina lako litukuzwe (Let's glorify your name)

Die Donker (The Dark) - two Afrikaans songs, arranged by André van der Merwe – Die Gang by Christopher Torr, performed by Laurika Rauch, and Klein Tambotieboom by Die Heuwels Fantasties.

DIE GANG (The Corridor):

In the dark corridor, I saw a light, but the flame was delicate and frail.
I yearned for springtime on my uncle’s farm without electricity.
My aunt said, “My child, my child, love and moths are blind.”
The flame is delicate and frail, and like a thief, it can disappear in the night.
Deep within the corridor, I yearned for something.
The wind was singing that spring would bring love.
I could hear the day withering – it was only the sun disappearing.
And as certain as the earth that turns, a cock would crow again.
One evening the night turned to day as the storm erupted with all its force.
And I hid in the corridor because I was afraid of the electricity.

KLEIN TAMBOTIEBOOM (a farm in the Limpopo Province of South Africa):

When the shadows come to fetch me, and when the good Lord does not look out for me,
when the ozone layer perishes
and falls into a chandelier of stars,
lay my heart to rest in Klein Tambotieboom and scatter my ashes across the Bushveld horizon.

Angel, Writer, Angel - Sarah McLachlan / arr. André van der Merwe

Recorded on 12 March 2020 in the Endler Hall, Stellenbosch