Les Troubadours du Roi Baudouin - Five Selections from "Missa Luba" (1965 Congolese record album)

satelloon, Dec 16, 2007

445,772 views • Dec 16, 2007

Stereo-ized 1965 Phillips mono Missa Luba: Les Troubadours du Roi Baudouin perform an arrangement by Father Guido Haazen. The entire album has never been reissued, and no currently available recording matches the original's spirit. **** Edited by Azizi Powell This pancocojams post showcases five selections from the 1965 Congolese music album entitled "Missa Luba". Information about that album is included in this post. The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes. All copyrights remain with their owners. Thanks to all those who were associated with this album and thanks to satelloon, the publisher of these sound files on YouTube. **** SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Missa Luba 1965: Credo (B3)

satelloon, Dec 16, 2007

Stereo-ized 1965 Phillips mono Missa Luba: Les Troubadours du Roi Baudouin perform an arrangement by Father Guido Haazen. The entire album has never been reissued, and no currently available recording matches the original's spirit.**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #3- Missa Luba 1965: Ebu Bwale Kemai, marriage ballad (A3)

satelloon, Dec. 16, 2007

Stereo-ized 1965 Phillips mono Missa Luba: Les Troubadours du Roi Baudouin perform an arrangement by Father Guido Haazen. The entire album has never been reissued, and no currently available recording matches the original's spirit **** SHOWCASE #4 - Missa Luba 1965: Sanctus (B4)

satelloon, Dec. 16, 2007

Stereo-ized 1965 Phillips mono Missa Luba: Les Troubadours du Roi Baudouin perform an arrangement by Father Guido Haazen. The entire album has never been reissued, and no currently available recording matches the original's spirit**** SHOWCASE #5: Missa Luba 1965: Agnus Dei (B6)

satelloon, Dec. 16, 2007

Stereo-ized 1965 Phillips mono Missa Luba: Les Troubadours du Roi Baudouin perform an arrangement by Father Guido Haazen. The entire album has never been reissued, and no currently available recording matches the original's spirit**** INFORMATION ABOUT THE MISSA LUBA From https://religion.fandom.com/wiki/Missa_Luba "The Missa Luba is a version of the Latin Mass based on traditional Congolese songs. It was arranged by Father Guido Haazen, a Franciscan Friar from Belgium, and originally performed and recorded in 1958 by "Les Troubadours du Roi Baudouin", a choir of Congolese children from Kamina.

Background

Father Guido Haazen arrived in the Belgian Congo in 1953 from Belgium. In 1954 he founded the Troubadours (named for Baudouin I of Belgium) as a choir of 45 boys aged 9 to 14 and 15 teachers from Central School in Kamina. In 1958 the ensemble toured Europe to acclaim, at one point singing with the Vienna Boys Choir. There was a high degree of improvisation in the performances, based around traditional song forms. The Sanctus is based on a Kiluba farewell song.[1]

The first recording, which dates from 1958, features solo vocalist Joachim Ngoi and was released as an album on the Philips label in 1963 in the UK (and two years later in the USA), including a selection of songs used as the basis for the Missa Luba. The contiguous "Sanctus" and "Benedictus" sections were released as a single, which spent some time on the record chart in the UK. In 2004 Philips released the original recording on CD (without the Congolese songs), plus a 2000 recording on DVD. The CD also includes the Misa Criolla and Misa Flamenca performed by other artists.

Since the 1960s the Missa Luba has been recorded by other choirs, including The Muungano National Choir of Nairobi, and the Washington Choral Arts Society. 

Father Haazen died in 2004.

Musical arrangement

The "Kyrie" and the "Credo" are wholly elaborated like the "kasalas" which are still performed according to the Ngandanjika (Kasai); the "Sanctus" and the "Benedictus" were inspired by a magnificent "Parting-song in Kiluba." The "Gloria" is improvised in the typical Kiluba-style of the Katanga. The "Hosannah" is a genuine rhythmic dance of the Kasai, and the "Agnus Dei" is a typical Bena Lulua (Luluabourg) song.

Originally the music was not written. The composition was the result of general cooperation and of a spontaneous inspiration. Later, sheet music of Haazen's arrangement was published.

In the "Credo" the text (the crucifixion and the death of the Redeemer) is preceded by the usual announcement of death, first on the Kyondo and then on the Kikumvi (Tom-Tom). Then follows a genuine "kilio" (elegy - dead-song) without percussion accompaniment, sung by the solo voice. The doleful tone is stressed by the repeated and sustained o-sounds ("... etiam prono ... bis, sub Pontio Pilato... ).

The Missa Luba was created by Baluba of the Kasai and Katanga, with Father Haazen.[1]"... **** Thanks for visiting pancocojams. Visitor comments are welcome.