Spring Concert, 2010

The fourth and fifth grade musicians from all three Watertown elementary schools delivered yet another stellar performance this week. Here's a short movie highlighting a few key moments. Ask Mr. Spano for the password.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo with Paul Simon - Homeless

This song was performed in 1987 in Zimbabwe and was written by Paul Simon and Joseph Shabalala of Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

Thandiswa Mazwayi

Thandiswa Mazwayi is a young pop star in South Africa whose music is known as the Kwaito style.

Hugh Masekela - Bring Him Back Home

Hugh Masekela wrote this song in the 1980's while Nelson Mandela was still in jail.

Hugh Masekela - Thanayi

Hugh Masekela is a South African singer, and jazz trumpeter.

N'Kosi Sikeleli Africa - the South African National Anthem

Here's Paul Simon, Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, and Joseph Shabablala all singing the South African National Anthem in concert in Zimbabwe.

Under African Skies - Miriam Makeba with Paul Simon

This is from Paul Simon's famous 1987 concert in Zimbabwe.

Miriam Makeba singing Mbube

Here's Mama Africa in the 1960's singing "Mbube" which is also known as "Wimoweh," which later became "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."

Miriam Makeba dies at 76.

Miriam Makeba, also known as Mama Africa, died in 2008 at the age of 76. Here's a short news report about her.

Shosholoza

Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika

The South African National Anthem is sung in 5 of the nation's 11 national languages: Zulu, Xhosa, Sesotho, Afrikaans, and English. Click on the title above to see a pronunciation guide to the song.

Shosholoza

This South African folk song was originally sung by coal-miners and is now performed as a patriotic anthem. Here's our chorus working on it during rehearsal.

"Follow the Drinkin' Gourd"

This past February, we studied spirituals - an early form of African-American music. This video shows Ms. Evans's 5th graders performing the spiritual "Follow the Drinkin' Gourd."

Lowell Elementary Chorus

Hey gang. I know it's been a few months, but here's a video of the chorus during our Winter Concert this past December. The chorus performed "Eleanor Rigby" by The Beatles, "Adeste Fideles," and "Heal the World" by Michael Jackson.