Botswana: Adding Moropa to Choral Music Proves Popular

 

 

 

 

 

Botswana: Adding Moropa to Choral Music Proves Popular

Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)

OPINION
February 28, 2007
Posted to the web February 28, 2007

Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe

 

For decades, choral music has been known for its purity, as the type of music that gives the audience un-spoilt singing talent, and nothing else. It has been about enjoying combinations of vocals of varying pitches in a song. It is about enjoying the flow of "first part, alto, tenor, and bass" voices in a song as the choir conductor uses his or her hand movements giving the choir the rhythm and the pitch.

But there is a new addition to choral music and it looks like the additional musical instrument will be a welcome development, if what was seen at Maitisong last Wednesday is anything to go by. The popular Gaborone choral, Sedibeng added moropa, the drum to the traditional choral set up, and the audience at the Maitisong auditorium, appeared to just love the new addition as they clapped and screamed loud with joy after the group had performed.

Interestingly, the Moropa was not just used to add rhythm as it is usually used in normal set ups. It appeared to be part of the choir as well, just like the singing voices.

The tempo of the moropa, and its loudness depended on the choir conductor. One moment the drum would go silent, the other moment it would take over, as it merges with the chorus of the song being played.

The moropa also seemed to have had certain impact on the singers; whenever the conductor unleashed the power of the drum, one could see the choir coming to life, singing energetically and dancing vigorously to the African beat of the drum.

Traditionally, the drum is used only in cultural dances like borankana. Even the traditional chorals, dikhwaere, are not known for using drums. They get their rhythm and song beat from the steps they make as they stomp the ground doing the dikhwaere dance styles.

With moropa already proving to be a hit, it remains to be seen what more or alternative musical instruments would be added into choral in the future. With so many good choral music groups in Gaborone alone, perhaps the changes are a must do. There is no doubt the moropa instrument would go along in differentiating Sedibeng from the rest as they have adopted a unique addition, not common in choral music, at least for now.