Canticum Novum
Encyclopedia
Canticum Novum is the church choir of the Stellenbosch Dutch Reformed Church (Moederkerk). The choir exists as a society of the University of Stellenbosch and is the only choir in South Africa connected to a university singing only sacred music.

Name and Motto

Cantate Domino canticum novum!
Sing to the Lord a new song!

The name Canticum Novum means “New Song” and is derived from Psalm 96:1, which starts with the words Cantate Domino canticum novum (Sing to the Lord a new song). Cantate Domino (Sing to the Lord) is then also the motto of the choir.

Canticum Novum strives to share the message of the Gospel, as well as honour God as the creator of music. The repertoire consists only of sacred songs, with at least some new songs every year. This goal is particularly evident in church services, where the focus of the music is to bring the Word and support the liturgy.

Emblem

The core consists of a Plane leaf, symbolic of steadfastness, with the primary vein typifying a cross. The nine points of the leaf represents, in this order, the supporters of the members as the uppermost leaflet, and the eight voice parts as the remaining leaflets. The leafstalk is turned clockwise, signifying advancement.

Cantate Domino canticum novum!

History

The activities of Canticum Novum are the continuance of a well-founded choir tradition that came about more than a century ago within the Stellenbosch Dutch Reformed Church. This tradition includes notable South African figures in choral music such as Gawie Cillié, Chris Swanepoel, Pieter van der Westhuizen and Anton Els. When the Stellenbosch Central Church separated from the Stellenbosch Church (Moederkerk) in 1959, Chris Swanepoel extended this tradition when he established a choir that consisted mainly of students. Out of this congregation the Stellenbosch Student Church later formed.

Pieter van der Westhuizen succeeded Swanepoel in 1965 as conductor and organist. He held this position for 25 years - until 1990. Anton Els became the new conductor and in the 5 years that he held the position, the choir underwent its first name change - from the Stellenbosch Central Church Choir to the Stellenbosch Student Church Choir.

As of 1996 Louis van der Watt is associated with the choir and the congregation as conductor and organist. In 2000 the name changed again, becoming Canticum Novum. Due to a remerging of the two churches in 2007, the Stellenbosch Student Church is presently part of Moederkerk, and as such Canticum Novum is once more its official choir, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2009.

Throughout its existence the choir has achieved many successes and has acquired a distinctive and beloved character, also due to its student makeup. Canticum Novum is the only choir in South Africa that only sings sacred music while at the same time consisting mainly of students and young adults. Apart from being the Stellenbosch Moederkerk Choir, Canticum Novum is also a stage choir that has a wide repertoire with works ranging from Bruckner, Rachmaninoff and Monteverdi to Negro Spirituals. Every year the choir also performs in one or more concerts with an orchestra including works by Händel, Mozart, Rossini, Bach and Schubert, to name but a few.

While having an impressive program, the value of the choir cannot be quantified. For those that sing in the choir, as well as those who listen in, the true value lies in the growth it brings to their lives. It is the recollections of clever comments during tours, camps and practice sessions and that mystical bond between them that share a sacred song that denotes the choir's worth. It is to be deeply touched by the words and music during a revered moment that brings amazing change in their life.

Repertoire

The choir is one of the few choirs in South Africa to sing only sacred music, but nevertheless holds regular public performances. It has become a tradition that, with the start of each year, the choir will practice and perform a mass or similar work with the University Stellenbosch Symphony Orchestra. The following works have been performed:
  • 2010 - Mozart Requiem
  • 2009 - Handel
    HANDEL
    HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....

     Messiah
    Messiah (Handel)
    Messiah is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742, and received its London premiere nearly a year later...

  • 2008 - Vivaldi Magnificat & Credo
    Credo
    A credo |Latin]] for "I Believe") is a statement of belief, commonly used for religious belief, such as the Apostles' Creed. The term especially refers to the use of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed in the Mass, either as text, Gregorian chant, or other musical settings of the...

     and Handel
    HANDEL
    HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....

     Dixit Dominus
  • 2007 - Vivaldi Gloria
    Gloria (Vivaldi)
    Antonio Vivaldi wrote several settings of the Gloria. RV 589 is the most familiar and popular piece of sacred music by Vivaldi; however, he was known to have written at least three Gloria settings. Only two survive whilst the other is presumably lost and is only mentioned in the Kreuzherren...

     and Handel
    HANDEL
    HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....

     Dettingen Te Deum
    Dettingen Te Deum
    The Dettingen Te Deum is a canticle in D major composed by George Frideric Handel in 1743.-Background:On 27 June 1743, the British army and its allies, under the command of King George II and Lord Stair, won a victory at the Battle of Dettingen, over the French army, commanded by the Maréchal de...

  • 2006 - Mozart Requiem
  • 2005 - Handel
    HANDEL
    HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....

     Messiah
    Messiah (Handel)
    Messiah is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742, and received its London premiere nearly a year later...

  • 2004 - Handel
    HANDEL
    HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....

     Coronation Anthems
  • 2003 - Mozart Credo Mass in C Major, K.257, and Schubert Credo Mass in F Major, D105
  • 2002 - Mozart Requiem
  • 2001 - Bach
    Bạch
    Bạch is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as Bai in Chinese and Baek, in Korean.Bach is the anglicized variation of the surname Bạch.-Notable people with the surname Bạch:* Bạch Liêu...

     Magnificat
    Magnificat (Bach)
    The Magnificat in D major, BWV 243, is a major vocal work of Johann Sebastian Bach. It was composed for orchestra, a five-part choir and four or five soloists. The text is the canticle of Mary, mother of Jesus, as told by Luke the Evangelist .Bach composed an initial version in E flat major in 1723...

    , Handel Dettingen Te Deum and Rossini's Stabat Mater
  • 2000 - Handel
    HANDEL
    HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....

     Messiah
    Messiah (Handel)
    Messiah is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742, and received its London premiere nearly a year later...

     and Fauré Requiem
  • 1999 - Handel
    HANDEL
    HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....

     Dixit Dominus and Vivaldi Gloria
    Gloria (Vivaldi)
    Antonio Vivaldi wrote several settings of the Gloria. RV 589 is the most familiar and popular piece of sacred music by Vivaldi; however, he was known to have written at least three Gloria settings. Only two survive whilst the other is presumably lost and is only mentioned in the Kreuzherren...

  • 1998 - Mozart Requiem


It has also become custom for the choir, or some members, to get invited to perform as additional members for several performances of other works during the year, which includes the Mozart Requiem (2007), Handel
HANDEL
HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....

 Messiah
Messiah (Handel)
Messiah is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742, and received its London premiere nearly a year later...

 (2006) and Beethoven Symphony No. 9
Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven)
The Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, is the final complete symphony of Ludwig van Beethoven. Completed in 1824, the symphony is one of the best known works of the Western classical repertoire, and has been adapted for use as the European Anthem...

 (2005).

The choir then follows an a cappella repertoire for the rest of the year. A wide range of music is considered and the repertoire includes works from composers Monteverdi, Bruckner, Rachmaninoff, Randall Thompson
Randall Thompson
Randall Thompson was an American composer, particularly noted for his choral works.-Career:He attended Harvard University, became assistant professor of music and choir director at Wellesley College, and received a doctorate in music from the University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music...

etc. as well as Negro Spirituals. Other favourites include Afrikaans works by composers such as Chris Lambrecht and Pieter van der Westhuizen (ex-conductor of Canticum Novum), to name but a few.

External links

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