Canticum Novum

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Canticum Novum is the church choir of Student Church Stellenbosch and Moederkerk Stellenbosch. The choir exists as a society of University of Stellenbosch and is the only choir in South Africa related to a university singing only sacred music.

[edit] History

In 1959, Chris Swanepoel founded the choir as the church choir of Stellenbosch-Central Church and was replaced as conductor by Pieter van der Westhuizen in 1965 who held this position for 25 years. Anton Els was the next conductor and it was during his period of conducting that the choir became known as the Stellenbosch Student Church Choir. Louis van der Watt, the present conductor, has been fulfilling the role since 1996.

The choir got its present name Canticum Novum (Latin for "new song") in 2000 in relation to Psalm 96:1 - Cantate Domino Canticum Novum ("Sing to the Lord a new song"). Cantate Domino (Latin for "sing to the Lord") is also the motto of the choir.

[edit] Repertoire

The choir is one of the few choirs in South Africa to sing only sacred music, but nevertheless holds regular 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:

2008 - Vivaldi Magnificat & Credo and Handel Dixit Dominus
2008 - Canticum Novum was also invited to perform as additional members for several performances of other works during the year, of which the first was the Mozart Requiem.
2007 - Vivaldi Gloria and Handel Dettingen Te deum
2006 - Mozart Requiem
2005 - Handel Messiah
2005 - Towards the end of the year the choir was also part of a festival where Beethoven Symphony No. 9 was performed
2004 - Handel Coronation Anthems
2003 - Mozart Credo Mass in C Major, K.257, and Shubert Credo Mass in F Major, D105
2002 - Mozart Requiem
2001 - Bach Magnificat, Handel Dettingen Te deum and Rossini's Stabat Mater
2000 - Handel Messiah
1999 - Handel Dixit Dominus and Vivaldi Gloria
1998 - Mozart Requiem

The choir then follows an a capella 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 etc. as well as some Negro Spirituals on some occasions. 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.