Abel Selaocoe - Hymns of Bantu (2025) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

Following his debut album Where is Home / Hae ke Kae (which was awarded a Qobuzissime in 2022), South African cellist Abel Selaocoe continues his exploration into the abstract ideas of home and identity. While Where is Home was a deeply introspective journey of self-discovery, Hymns of Banthu represents a return to peace, and a joyful reconnection with his roots. True to his signature musical aesthetic of blending genres, cultures, and eras, Selaocoe seamlessly fuses beautiful African rhythms and melodies with the elegance of European Baroque tradition. Compared to his first album, Hymns of Banthu has a groovier, more joyous celebratory feel, carried by his masterful bow skills and soulful vocals, all sung in Tswana and Sesotho. Here we find one of the cellist's signatures front and centre once again: his deep love for Baroque music, which he showcased in Where is Home with Bach’s Cello Suites Nos. 3 and 5 and Platti’s Sonata No. 7. Between two more jazzy ritornellos, listeners are treated to the Sarabande from Bach’s Sixth Suite and an improvisation on a viola piece by Marin Marais. Selaocoe moves effortlessly between moods and styles, commanding respect for his complete mastery of both traditions. Filled with energy, harmonic depth, and raw emotion, Hymns of Banthu is an unclassifiable gem, and another milestone in the extraordinary musical journey Selaocoe is carving out with infectious joy. With boundless inspiration drawn from African traditions, choral invocations, and Baroque festivities, Selaocoe proves himself to be not just a remarkable talent but also a powerful force for cross-cultural dialogue.

TRACKLIST

1 Tsohle Tsohle - Manchester Collective, Abel Selaocoe, Fred Thomas, Alan Keary, Sidiki Dembele, Dudu Kouate
2 Emmanuele - Manchester Collective, Abel Selaocoe, Fred Thomas, Alan Keary, Sidiki Dembele, Dudu Kouate
3 Kea Morata - Manchester Collective, Abel Selaocoe, Fred Thomas, Alan Keary, Sidiki Dembele, Dudu Kouate
4 Tshepo - I - Manchester Collective, Abel Selaocoe, Fred Thomas, Rakhi Singh, Alan Keary, Dudu Kouate
5 Tshepo - II (Rapela) - Manchester Collective, Abel Selaocoe, Fred Thomas, Rakhi Singh, Alan Keary, Dudu Kouate
6 Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012: IV. Sarabande (Arr. Thomas for Cello & String Orchestra) - Abel Selaocoe, Manchester Collective
7 Dinaka - Abel Selaocoe, Dudu Kouate, Fred Thomas
8 Improv on Marin Marais' Pieces de viole, Livre II, Suite No 3 en re majeur "Les voix humaines" (Arr Selaocoe & Thomas for Vocal and Cello) - Abel Selaocoe
9 Takamba - Manchester Collective, Abel Selaocoe, Fred Thomas, Ruth Gibson, Alan Keary, Sidiki Dembele, Dudu Kouate
10 L.B. Files: Concerto - Abel Selaocoe, Manchester Collective
11 L.B. Files: Igiul - Abel Selaocoe, Manchester Collective
12 Camagu - Manchester Collective, Abel Selaocoe, Fred Thomas, Alan Keary, Sidiki Dembele, Dudu Kouate



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