Suiderkruis Mis (Southern Cross Mass) blends South African cultures, languages and genres in joyous musical form.
Local composer, André Strijdom, has interwoven a range of styles in his blended composition – from classical, to rock, easy listening, folk, and township jive – to create an exuberant musical experience.
The short, but intense Suiderkruis Mis, is sung in English, Afrikaans, Latin and Xhosa, leading the mixed ensemble to draw on each other’s strengths.
The current Suiderkruis Mis company is made up of singers, musicians, and limited technical support from the Helderberg basin.
The first presentation took place on Heritage Day, and the Mass is now attracting an increased number of participants from all communities who enjoy making music together.
A developing Helderberg Arts Forum aims to encourage such collaborative ventures, so that people from different communities are drawn together around a common purpose.
Strijdom has made his work available to promote the standard of music in the Helderberg, and also to raise awareness of the need for urgent psychiatric services in the Helderberg Basin.
This Luhani Project is still in its early stages, but aims to work towards developing a mental health facility in the Helderberg, especially for those patients who cannot afford to pay exorbitant medical bills.
All orchestra players, singers, amateurs and pros are invited to this collaborative venture to draw people from different communities together around a common purpose.
To participate in any of these performances, the rehearsals take place on Saturdays from 1pm to 3pm at the Gemeente at the NG Kerk, off Schoongezicht Road in Somerset West.
For more information, contact Melanie Willis at 074 137 9674 or melaniewilliss@yahoo.co.uk, also to join the Helderberg Arts Forum, a database of performers in the basin.
Perfomances are on Thursday November 16, at 7pm, and Saturday November 18, at 4pm, at The Refinery at the Newgen Church at 13 Derrick Drive, Somerset West Business Park; and on Thursday November 23, at 7pm, and Saturday November 25, at 4pm, at the new Lofsentrum in Dennehof Street, Gordon’s Bay.
Tickets are available through Quicket at R100.
