African Sanctus, David Fanshawe

Listen again to the first section of David Fanshawe's unforgettable work, African Sanctus, with recorded music of the Acholi people (Bwala Dance) mixed with his composed choral Latin Sanctus. This recording starts by bringing together Dorset voices and East African musicians- and presents other excerpts from the work.


Culturally inappropriate? Musically eccentric? For me African Sanctus still works, magnificently. It conveys a powerful message of unity. Although not the most obvious choice of music for Christmas Eve, it illuminates my own cross-cultural experiences and a life of travelling and international bridge-building. I share his love of indigenous folk-music.

Kyrie - "The Kyrie combines a western choir with a recording of the muezzin in the Mohammad Ali mosque, Cairo. Fanshawe combines the muezzin with a choir singing the Kyrie in a way that is totally respectful to both traditions".

David Fanshawe, Devon-born musical visionary, composer and explorer, died on 5 July 2010.

We met in Stockholm in October 2003. Maybe he would have enjoyed my film about Ethiopia.  It includes a sequence on the Ethiopian Christmas ceremony at Lalibela.