Missa Luba; 10 Kenyan Folk Melodies

Guido Haazen (Composer), African Traditional (Composer), Boniface Mganga (Conductor), Kenya Muungano National Choir (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Kenya Muungano National Choir
• Conductor: Boniface Mganga
• Composer: Guido Haazen, African Traditional
• Audio CD (February 10, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B00000412X
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #128,018 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

108 of 110 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Listen to the original, February 9, 2001

By 

Michael O'Brien "Mike" (Portland Oregon USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Missa Luba - An African Mass (Audio CD)

This album is a reinterpretation of the original Missa Luba created by Father Guido Haazen and Les Troubadors du Roi Baudoin in the Congo. If you want to hear unforgettable power and grace, get the original version.

Sadly, the Belgian colonization of the Congo enslaved the people and destroyed their culture. Certainly few Europeans were capable of appreciating call-and-resonse singing and drumming. Father Guido not only understood, he dared to wed Congolese music with the Latin mass. In the 1950's this was a radical idea.

Father Guido organized boys from the ages of 9 to 14 into a choir backed up by traditional Congolese percussion. He achieved an ethereal sound, like an African version of an English boys' choir. When the choir sings the Latin words of the mass, the effect is magnificent. The first time I heard it, it gave me chills down my spine. Perhaps that is why Lindsey Anderson used this music in his film about English boarding schools, 'If'.

Philips has never released a CD of the original music, probably because the late 50's recording quality is not up to modern standards. The LP can still be found, it is Missa Luba, Philips 6527 137. I wish they would make a CD so the original would not disappear completely.

The Kenyans are recreating Bantu singing styles and percussion. If you like the copy, you'll love the original.

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars You must hear the original Missa Luba!!, May 5, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Missa Luba - An African Mass (Audio CD)

I first heard Missa Luba, when I was about eight. Living in the suburbs, My godfather brought it to us, after his stint in Mwanza,with the White Fathers. I had never heard anything that made me shiver, with the force of some divine light.And to hear the voices!!Glorious and more. I thought, "this is what God sounds like". I looked for the original for years, when the record got lost. The modern versions of this are no comparison! Another reviewer here lists the LP #, so I urge you to get it.

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not nearly what I thought, June 17, 2002

By 

A. G Primack "Master of Zen" (Hamilton, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Missa Luba - An African Mass (Audio CD)

I listened to the Missa Luba on NPR when I was in high school. It was good enough for me to keep looking for a copy for 30 years. This is not the same version or nearly as good. Don't buy it.