The Sunday Mail
LOCAL Catholic music composers have scored a first after putting together Shona songs in notation.
Members of the Archdiocese of Harare Catholic Composers Association Mr Nicholas Muchenu (left) and Mr John Dzingai share notes during the music course at Makumbi Mission last Tuesday
This saw Catholics from as far as the United Kingdom returning home to be part of more than 4 000 congregates who last week converged at Makumbi Mission in Domboshava.
The six-day meeting was a music course which is held annually to equip Catholics with new songs for the particular season.
Mr John Dzingai, chairman of the Archdiocese of Harare Catholic Composers Association, which put together the Catholic Liturgical Music in Notation handbook with approval of the church’s leadership, said this was a breakaway from the tradition of just learning words without having to sing through notes.
“As Catholics we compose our songs then we call up our members from all places across the country to come and learn those songs.
“These are songs we will sing in the church and during all other activities that we will conduct as Catholics. In the midst of participants are some who have come from United Kingdom, South Africa and other countries,” Mr Dzingai said.
Why would people travel from overseas to learn songs?
“It is important to learn these songs as there is no-one who will be able to know unless they attend this course. We have been conducting these once every year.
‘‘But we might be doing this once in six years giving each other chances as different provinces if the motion is approved.
“As Catholics we do not learn musical notes but this time we managed to do that. We now have a handbook titled Volume 1 (Catholic Liturgical Music in Notation). Ever since we have just been singing with our drums without notes. But now as composers we have put this together
“The progression of music has inspired us to do that.
‘‘We see that if we don’t record our music we will forget it and lose our heritage. But now because of these musical notes it helps our history to be preserved.
‘‘So the generations to follow will also know them. We also started singing within our musical competitions as a diocese singing music notes. But we are the first to put together the handbook,” Mr Dzingai said.
The compilation took three months and the handbook has songs meant to be sung on specific occasions.
“The songs are composed from approved Bible versions, church catechism books among other Catholic teachings with the aim to inspire members to be aware of their faith,” secretary of the association Mr Nicholas Muchenu said.
