African Anthem for Brass Quintet

By: Enoch Sontonga
For: Brass quintet
page one of African Anthem for Brass Quintet

Buy this score and parts

African Anthem for Brass Quintet

$7.99

$1.99

from $1.20

(+ VAT when applicable)

Preview individual parts:

PDF icon

Instant download

You are purchasing high quality sheet music PDF files suitable for printing or viewing on digital devices.
Composer
Enoch Sontonga
Year of composition
1897
Arranger
Year of arrangement
2011
Difficulty
Moderate (Grades 4-6)
Duration
1 minute
Genre
World music
License details
For anything not permitted by the above licence then you should contact the publisher first to obtain permission.

The African Anthem arranged for Classical Brass Quintet.

This is not an anthem for a nation, but for a whole continent. Originating with the Bantu people in South Africa, it is now sung throughout Africa in various languages. The melody is also used by Zambia, South Africa and Tanzania in their respective National Anthems.

"Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" (Xhosa pronunciation: [ŋkʼɔsi sikʼɛlɛl‿iafrikʼa], lit. 'Lord Bless Africa') is a Christian hymn originally composed in 1897 by Enoch Sontonga, a Xhosa clergyman at a Methodist mission school near Johannesburg. The song became a pan-African liberation song and versions of it were later adopted as the national anthems of five countries in Africa including Zambia, Tanzania, Namibia and Zimbabwe after independence. Zimbabwe and Namibia have since adopted new compositions for their national anthems. The song's melody is currently used as the national anthem of Tanzania and the national anthem of Zambia. In 1994, Nelson Mandela decreed that the verse be embraced as a joint national anthem of South Africa, with a revised version including elements of "Die Stem" (the then co-state anthem inherited from the previous apartheid government) adopted in 1997.

The hymn has often been considered the "African national anthem" due to its reverence of the African continent and the hymns use as liberation music. According to anthropologist David Coplan: " 'Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika' has come to symbolize more than any other piece of expressive culture the struggle for African unity and liberation in South Africa."

"Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" was originally composed as a hymn in 1897 by Enoch Sontonga, a teacher at a Methodist mission school near Johannesburg. Some claim the melody is based on the hymn "Aberystwyth" by Joseph Parry, though others have called the connection far fetched. The words of the first stanza and chorus were originally written in Xhosa as a hymn. In 1927 seven additional Xhosa stanzas were added by the poet Samuel Mqhayi. Sontonga originally composed the hymn in B-flat major with a four-part harmony supporting a repetitive melody characteristic of "both Western hymn composition and indigenous South African melodies." The hymn was taken up by the choir of Ohlange High School, whose co-founder served as the first president of the South African Native National Congress. It was sung to close the Congress meeting in 1912, and by 1925 it had become the official closing anthem of the organisation, now known as the African National Congress."Sikelel' iAfrika" was first published in 1927. The song was the official anthem for the African National Congress during the apartheid era and was a symbol of the anti-apartheid movement. For decades during the apartheid regime it was considered by many to be the unofficial national anthem of South Africa, representing the suffering of the oppressed masses. Because of its connection to the ANC, the song was banned by the regime during the apartheid era.

In 1994, after the end of apartheid, the new President of South Africa Nelson Mandela declared that both "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" and the previous national anthem, "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika" (English: "The Call of South Africa") would be national anthems. While the inclusion of "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" celebrated the newfound freedom of most South Africans, the fact that "Die Stem" was also retained even after the fall of apartheid, represented the desire of the new government led by Mandela to respect all races and cultures in an all-inclusive new era dawning upon South Africa. During this period, the custom was to play "Die Stem" together with "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" during occasions that required the playing of a national anthem.

In 1996, a shortened, combined version of the two compositions was released as the new national anthem of South Africa under the constitution of South Africa and was adopted the following year. This version uses several of the official languages of South Africa. The first two lines of the first stanza are sung in Xhosa and the last two in Zulu. The second stanza is sung in Sesotho. The third stanza consists of a verbatim section of the former South African national anthem, "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika", and is sung in Afrikaans. The fourth and final stanza, sung in English, is a modified version of the closing lines of "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika".

A Swahili version of the hymn with modified lyrics is used as the national anthem of Tanzania under the name of "Mungu ibariki Afrika".

Former national anthem:

Zambia: The hymn was the national anthem of Zambia from independence in 1964 until 1973 when the lyrics were replaced by "Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free".

Zimbabwe: "Ishe Komborera Africa" was the Zimbabwean version of "God Bless Africa" sung in the Shona and Ndebele languages and was its first national anthem, adopted upon independence in 1980.

It was replaced in 1994 by "Ngaikomborerwe Nyika yeZimbabwe/Kalibusiswe Ilizwe LeZimbabwe" (English: "Blessed be the land of Zimbabwe"), but still remains very popular in the country.

Namibia:

"Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" was used provisionally as the national anthem of Namibia at time of the country's independence in March 1990. But soon after, an official contest was organised for a new national anthem. It was won by Axali Doeseb, who wrote "Namibia, Land of the Brave" which was officially adopted on the first anniversary of the country's independence, in 1991.

Other countries and organisations:

In other African countries throughout southern Africa, the song was sung as part of the anti-colonial movements. It includes versions in Chichewa (Malawi and Zambia). Outside of Africa, the hymn is perhaps best known as the long-time (since 1925) anthem of the African National Congress (ANC), as a result of the global anti-Apartheid Movement of the 1970s and 1980s, when it was regularly sung at meetings and other events.

In Finland the same melody is used as the children's psalm "Kuule, Isä taivaan, pyyntö tää" ("Hear, Heavenly Father"). The hymn has appeared in Virsikirja, the hymnbook of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, with lyrics by Jaakko Löytty.

If you require an arrangement not found in my store, let me know your requirements, my rates are very reasonable: keithterrett@gmail.com

To purchase this score, please add it to your cart above. To purchase music not currently available on Score Exchange or for extended license requests, please contact the publisher directly.
Dutch National Anthem ''Wilhelmus van Nassouwe'' for String Orchestra (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Czech Republic National Anthem for String Orchestra (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Liechtensteiners National Anthem for Symphony Orchestra (Keith Terrett Olympic Anthem Series), Croatian National Anthem for String Orchestra (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Slovakian National Anthem ''Nad Tatrou sa blýska'' for Symphony Orchestra (Keith Terrett Olympic Anthem Series), Ave Maria for C Baritone, Euphonium, Trombone & Piano, Azores Regional Anthem (Hymn of the Azores- "Hino dos Açores" ) for Brass Quintet, Transkei National Anthem “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika” “God Bless Africa” 1981-1994 for Brass Quintet, Anthem of the United Federation of Planets for Brass Quintet, Comoran National Anthem "Udzima wa ya Masiwa" -"The Union of the Great Islands" for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Angolan National Anthem for Brass Quintet (World National Anthem series), Chilean National Anthem (Canción Nacional) for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Dominican National Anthem ’’Isle of beauty, Isle of Slendour’’ for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Ivorian (Ivory Coast) National Anthem (Song of Abidjan-L’ Abidjanaise) for Brass Quintet (World National Anthem Series), Bosnian & Herzegovinian National Anthem for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Belizean National Anthem “Land of the Free’’ for Brass Quintet (World National Anthem Series), Kenyan National Anthem (Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu-Oh God of All Creation) for Brass Quintet, March from ’Judas Maccabaeus’ for Junior Brass Quartet (School Junior Brass Series), Aruban National Anthem for Brass Quintet (World National Anthem Series), British Indian Ocean Territory National Anthem (God Save the Queen) for Brass Quintet, Belarusian National Anthem for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Taiwanese National Anthem (The Republic of China) for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Equinox for Brass Quintet & Drum Set, The Lord's My Shepherd for three Bb Trumpets & Trombone, Surinamese National Anthem for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Guinean National Anthem (Libertè) for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Zimbabwean National Anthem ''Kalibusiswe Ilizwe le Zimbabwe'' for Brass Quintet ''MFAO World National Anthem Series'', Nigerian National Anthem for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), O Mio Babbino Caro for C Trombone, Euphonium, Baritone & Piano (Pro version), Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Song (Im Schoensten Wiesengrunde) for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Three Welsh Chorales for Brass Quartet , Cwm Rhondda for Tuba Quartet, Slovakian National Anthem for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Malawian National Anthem for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Sengalese National Anthem “Pincez Tous vos Koras, Frappez les Balafons” - “Pluck Your Koras, Strike the Balafons” for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Afhgan National Anthem for Brass Quintet (1992-2006) Old version, Guatemalan National Anthem (Himno Nacional de Guatemala) for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Ethiopian National Anthem (Wodefit Gesgeshi, Widd Innat Ityopp’ya) for Brass Quintet (World National Anthem Series), Cameroon National Anthem (O Cameroon, Cradle of our Forefathers) for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Arcadian Local Anthem “Ave, Maris Stella” (Latin) “Hail, Star of the Ocean” for Brass Quintet & Percussion (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Tongan National Anthem ’’Ko e fasi ’o e tu’ o e ’Otu Tonga’’ - ’’The Song of the King of the Tongan Islands’’ for Brass Quintet, Greek & Cypriot National Anthem for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Vanuatu National Anthem ("Yumi, Yumi, Yumi"- "We, We, We") for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), El Salvadorian National Anthem (Himno nacional) for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Armenian National Anthem ("Mer Hayrenik") for Brass Quintet & Percussion (MFAO World Anthem Series), Congo (Democratic Repubic) National Anthem (Debout Kongolaise-Arise Congolese) for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Romani National Anthem (’’Gelem, Gelem’’ - ’’Romale Shavale’’) for Brass Quintet, French Guianese National Anthem (La Marsellaise) for Brass Quintet, Indian National Anthem for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Spanish National Anthem (Marcha Real) for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Beninese National Anthem (The Dawn of a New Day-L’Aube Nouvelle) for Brass Quintet (World National Anthem Series), Lebanese National Anthem (National Hymn of Lebanon) for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Russian Federation National Anthem (Hymne National de Russe) for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Canary Islands Official Regional Anthem for Brass Quintet & Percussion (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Togolese National Anthem for Brass Quintet (MFAO World Naational Anthem Series), Curaçaoan National Anthem (Himno di Korsou) for Brass Quintet MFAO World National Anthem Series MFAO World National Anthem Series, Finnish National Anthem ''Maamme'' for String Orchestra (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Dutch National Anthem ''Wilhelmus van Nassouwe'' for Symphony Orchestra Kt Olympic National Anthem Series, Ciskei National Anthem “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika” “God Bless Africa” 1981-1994 for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), The Gypsy Trombonist in New Orleans (Pro version), Philippino National Anthem for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Central African Republic National Anthem "La Renaissance" for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Haitian National Anthem La Dessalinienne for String Orchestra MFAO World National Anthem Series., Equatorial Guinea National Anthem for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Nicaraguan National Anthem (Salve a ti, Nicaragua -Hail to thee, Nicaragua)) for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Qatari National Anthem for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Peruvian National Anthem for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Chadian National Anthem (Chadian Hymn) for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Lithuanian National Anthem for String Orchestra (MFAO World National Anthem Series), An Eb Soprano Cornettist Goes Ballroom Dancing (Eb Trumpet/Soprano Cornet), Slovenian National Anthem for Brass Quintet (World National Anthem Series), Bahamian National Anthem (Oh Bahamaland) for Brass Quintet, Hungarian National Anthem (Himnusz) for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Papua New Guinea National Anthem for Voice & Piano, Falkland Islands National Anthem for Brass Quintet(World National Anthem Series), Dutch National Anthem for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Zambian National Anthem for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Havana Rhubarb Rumba for two Eb Tenor/Alto Horns & Piano, Swedish National & Royal Anthem for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Cuban National Anthem for Symphony Orchestra (KT Olympic Anthem Series), Eternal Father Strong to Save (Naval Hymn) for Brass Quartet-Quintet (Traditional version), Indian National Anthem ''Jana Gana Mana'' for Young Symphonic Band, Saint-Pierrais Miquelonnais Pierrian National Anthem for Brass Quintet (World National Anthem Series), Internationale (The ) Soviet Russia 1918-22 for Brass Quintet & Percussion MFAO World National Anthem Series, Air from the Suite No. 3 in D for C Trombone & String Orchestra, French National Anthem (La Marseillaise) for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series), Ukrainian National Anthem for British/American Brass Band (KT Olympic National Anthem Brass Band Series), Vatican State National Anthem - Inno e Marcia Pontificale “Pontifical Anthem” “Hymnus Pontificius” for Brass Quintet (MFAO World National Anthem Series) and State Anthem of the Chechen Republic (Іожалла я маршо) Shatlak's Song for Brass Quintet

Reviews of African Anthem for Brass Quintet

Sorry, there's no reviews of this score yet. Please .