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Wisdom in Folk and Popular Music Wisdom in Folk and Popular Music > Siyahamba

Siyahamba:

"Siyahamba" (Written by Andries Van Tonder) is a South African hymn that became popular in North American churches in the 1990s. The title means "We Are Marching" or "We are Walking" in the Zulu language.

"Siyahamba" for chorus, flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano and percussionn is Gideon Gee-Bum Kim's rendition of the South African hymn. It starts with a slow introduction that evokes a calling mode sung by soprano solo. Four part A Capella chorus follows the introduction. Then the piece is gradually accelerated with adding each instrument one by one (percussion-violin-flute-cello). In the middle, it also includes "Quasi Cadenza" that showcases a development of the "Siyahamba rhythm" on percussion. After the "Quasi Cadenza" section, the choral part reappears embellished by a soloist gesture of each instrument. Finally the piece ends with a short coda that reminds one of the calling mode in the beginning.

The text of this arrangement includes the Zulu, English, and Korean languages.

Lyrics:
(Zulu)
Siyahamb' ekukhanyeni kwenkos, Siyahamba ekukhanyeni kwenkos'.
Siyahamb' ekukhanyeni kwenkos', Siyahamba ekukhanyeni kwenkos'.
[ekukhanyeni kwenkos']
Siyahamba... ooh
[Siyahamba, hamba, Siyahamba, hamba]
Siyahamba ekukhanyeni kwenkos'.
[ekukhanyeni kwenkos']
Siyahamba... ooh
[Siyahamba, hamba, Siyahamba, hamba]
Siyahamba ekukhanyeni kwenkos'.

(English)
We are marching in the light of God
We are marching in the light of God.
We are marching in the light of God,

We are marching in the light of God.
[in the light of God]

We are marching... ooh
[We are marching, marching, we are marching, marching,]

We are marching in the light of God.
[the light of God]

We are marching... ooh
[We are marching, marching, we are marching, marching,]

We are marching in the light of God.

(Translation in Korean)
우린 행진하네 행진해 하나님의 그 빛 안에서
우린 행진하네 행진해 하나님의 그 빛 안에서
우린 행진, 행진, 행진, 행진 (오), 행진, 하나님의 그 빛 안에서

우린 행진, 행진, 행진, 행진 (아), 행진, 하나님의 그 빛 안에서

우린 행진, 행진, 행진, 행진 (오), 행진, 하나님의 그 빛 안에서 (아)

 

 

 
 
Gideon Gee-Bum Kim, managing/artistic directo
 
Copyright 2017 by Toronto Messiaen Ensemble