The time has come for the traditional end-of-the-year rendezvous for choral music lovers. And as usual, Bronwyn Maingard and her Choral Singers have painstakingly prepared an original programme that you can enjoy this evening at 18h30 at St Patrick?s Church, Quatre-Bornes, as presented by the choirmaster :

?Navidad Nuestra by composer Ariel Ramirez is a folk drama based on the nativity of Jesus Christ in the rhythms and traditions of Hispanic America. Ramírez, a native of Argentina, also used this style in his popular Misa Criolla

In this composition Ramírez gave to each episode of the story of the Nativity a distinctive regional voice which captures the mystery and glory of the birth of Christ in the musical idiom of the composer?s background. For example, a chamame for the annunciation to Mary and a huella pampeana for Mary and Joseph?s pilgrimage to Bethlehem. The result is a creation of beautiful and inspirational musical scenes .

Poet Felix Luna provided the lyrics for Navidad Nuestra. The collaboration of Ramírez and Luna has produced a marvelous work combining Hispanic American characteristics with the universal appeal of the story.

The poetic translation in the music was quite free. The original Spanish poetry of Félix Luna also includes in the Guaraní language - used by the Indian tribe that originally inhabited Paraguay and the provinces of Corrientes and Entre Ríos in northeastern Argentina. We thus give only a paraphrase of the movements.?

A rare combination of rythm and melody in perspective! Those who can?t attend this concert can still hear it at St-Augustin Church, Rivière-Noire, tomorrow and at Ste Thérèse Church, Curepipe on Thursday at the same hour. Knowing the remarkably professional level of the Choral Singers, added to the fact that entrance is free, these Christmas occasions are surely not to be missed.