Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste

Last updated

The Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste (OSK), or Kimbanguist Symphony Orchestra, is a Congolese orchestra based in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. For many years, the OSK was the only orchestra known to reside in Central Africa, [1] though in recent times, the Kaposoka Orchestra began performing in Angola. [2] It was the world's only all-black orchestra. [3]

Contents

History

Conductor Armand Diangienda founded the orchestra in 1994 after losing his job as an airline pilot, naming it after his grandfather, religious leader Simon Kimbangu. [4] At its conception, the group had only twelve amateur musicians that shared instruments and often used common materials as makeshift instrument parts. The group eventually grew to the size of about 200 amateur musicians and performers consisting of a full orchestra and choir.

The orchestra gained international attention when German filmmakers Martin Baer and Claus Wischmann created the documentary Kinshasa Symphony (2010) depicting the plight of the orchestra and its members in poverty stricken Kinshasa. [5]

In May 2013 it was announced that Diangienda was to become an honorary member of the Royal Philharmonic Society, an award previously bestowed on such famous musicians as Mendelssohn, Rossini, Wagner, Brahms and Stravinsky. [3]

Related Research Articles

Orchestra Large instrumental ensemble

An orchestra is a large instrumental ensemble typical of classical music, which combines instruments from different families, including

Canadian classical music

In Canada, classical music includes a range of musical styles rooted in the traditions of Western or European classical music that European settlers brought to the country from the 17th century and onwards. As well, it includes musical styles brought by other ethnic communities from the 19th century and onwards, such as Indian classical music and Chinese classical music. Since Canada's emergence as a nation in 1867, the country has produced its own composers, musicians and ensembles. As well, it has developed a music infrastructure that includes training institutions, conservatories, performance halls, and a public radio broadcaster, CBC, which programs a moderate amount of Classical music. There is a high level of public interest in classical music and education.

Orchestre Symphonique de Québec

The Orchestre symphonique de Québec is a Canadian symphony orchestra based in Quebec City. Founded in 1902 as the Société symphonique de Québec, the OSQ is the oldest active Canadian orchestra. Joseph Vézina was the OSQ's first music director, from 1902 to 1924. In 1942 the orchestra merged with rival orchestra Cercle philharmonique de Québec, at which time it changed its name to the Orchestre Symphonique de Québec.

Konono Nº1

Konono Nº1 is a musical group from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. They combine three electric likembé with voices, dancers, and percussion instruments that are made out of items salvaged from a junkyard. The group's amplification equipment is equally rudimentary, including a microphone carved out of wood fitted with a magnet from an automobile alternator and a gigantic horn-shaped amplifier. The group achieved international renown beginning in 2005, with its DIY aesthetic appealing to many fans of rock and electronic music. They played that same year at the Eurockéennes festival in France.

James DePreist American conductor

James Anderson DePreist was an American conductor. DePreist was one of the first African-American conductors on the world stage. He was the director emeritus of conducting and orchestral studies at The Juilliard School and laureate music director of the Oregon Symphony at the time of his death.

The Ottawa Symphony Orchestra (OSO) is a full size orchestra in Ottawa, Canada, including professional, student and amateur musicians. With around 100 musicians, the OSO is Ottawa's largest orchestra, which allows it to perform large symphonic repertoire of the 19th and 20th centuries, including works by Canadian composers.

OSK or Osk may refer to:

National Symphony Orchestra Ghana

The National Symphony Orchestra Ghana is the national symphony orchestra of Ghana. NSO Ghana was founded in 1959 by order of Kwame Nkrumah, and established by Philip Gbeho, together with the musician Amihud (Ami) Elroy from Israel who was especially invited to Ghana for the three years establishment mission. NSO Ghana was the only classical symphony orchestra in sub-Saharan Africa outside of South Africa until Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste was created in Congo in 1994.

Tito Muñoz

Tito Arturo Muñoz is an American conductor and is Music Director of The Phoenix Symphony. He was previously Music Director of the Opéra national de Lorraine and Orchestre symphonique et lyrique de Nancy in Nancy, France, and Ensemble LPR in New York City, as well as Assistant Conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Aspen Music Festival and School.

Tim Brady

Timothy Wesley John Brady is a Canadian composer, electric guitarist, improvising musician, concert producer, record producer and cultural activist. Working in the field of contemporary classical music, experimental music, and musique actuelle, his compositions utilize a variety of styles from serialism to minimalism and often incorporate modern instruments such as electric guitars and other electroacoustic instruments. His music is marked by a synthesis of musical languages, having developed an ability to use elements of many musical styles while retaining a strong sense of personal expression. Some of his early recognized works are the 1982 orchestral pieces Variants and Visions, his Chamber Concerto (1985), the chamber trio ...in the Wake..., and his song cycle Revolutionary Songs (1994).

Hillsboro Symphony Orchestra American symphony orchestra

Hillsboro Symphony Orchestra (HSO) is an amateur orchestra based in Hillsboro in the Portland metropolitan area of the U.S. state of Oregon. Founded in 2001, the non-profit group has 86 musicians and is led by conductor Sharon Northe. They perform three concerts per year at Hillsboro's Trinity Lutheran Church. Additionally, the orchestra also has five ensembles that perform at other events in the area.

Orchestre symphonique des Étudiants de Louvain-la-Neuve (OSEL) is a Belgian symphony orchestra based in Louvain-la-Neuve, Wallonie, and mainly composed of students from the University of Louvain (UCLouvain).

<i>Kinshasa Symphony</i> 2010 German film

Kinshasa Symphony is a German 2010 documentary film.

The Montreal Orchestra (MO) was a professional Canadian symphony orchestra based in Montreal, Quebec that was active from 1930–1941. While not Montreal's first orchestra, the MO is considered by music historians to be the first professional symphony orchestra in Montreal. Previous orchestras in that city were much smaller in size and, unlike the MO, utilized amateur musicians. The MO was the first ensemble in Montreal that employed only professional musicians, and the orchestra introduced Montreal's audiences to full symphonic programs for the first time. The ensemble gave the Montreal premieres of numerous works from the standard orchestral repertoire, including pieces by Beethoven, Berlioz, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff, and Sibelius among others.

Montreal Symphony House

The Montreal Symphony House is a concert hall in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Symphony House is located at the corner of de Maisonneuve Boulevard West and Saint Urbain Street, on the northeastern esplanade of Place des Arts in the Quartier des Spectacles.

Philippe Bender French flautist and conductor

Philippe Bender is a French flautist and conductor.

Maxime Goulet (composer) Canadian composer (born 1980)

Maxime Goulet is a Montreal-based Canadian composer who writes concert music as well as video game soundtracks. He currently teaches composition at the University of Sherbrooke. in Quebec, Canada.

KOKOKO! is an experimental electronic music collective based in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Their sound is created through homemade, unconventional instruments made from scrap, and their lyrics focus on political problems within the country. The group performs in a variety of different languages, including Kikongo, French, Lingala, and Swahili.

Lorenzo Turchi-Floris Italian composer

Lorenzo Turchi-Floris is an Italian composer, conductor, pianist and teacher.

References

  1. Schmitter, Elke. "Central Africa's Only Orchestra: Playing Beethoven in Kinshasa". Spiegel Online. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
  2. "Angola: Kaposoka Orchestra performs at "Show of the Month"". ANGOP. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  3. 1 2 Andy Morgan (9 May 2013). "The scratch orchestra of Kinshasa". The Guardian . Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  4. Tsioulcas, Anastasia. "'Kinshasa Symphony': An Ode To Musical Joy In Central Africa". NPR. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
  5. Morgan, Frances. "Films on sound: Kinshasa Symphony". Sound and Music. Retrieved April 18, 2012.