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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 Bantu 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 Bantu 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. © Pierre Lamy/Qobuz
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Fred Thomas, Producer, Percussion, Piano, MainArtist - Dudù Kouate, Percussion, MainArtist - Alan Keary, Electric Bass, MainArtist - Joseph Reiser, Engineer - Abel Selaocoe, Composer, Cello, Percussion, Vocals, MainArtist - Sidiki Dembélé, Percussion, MainArtist - Manchester Collective, Ensemble, MainArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2025 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2025 Parlophone Records Limited
Fred Thomas, Producer, Percussion, Piano, MainArtist - Dudù Kouate, Percussion, MainArtist - Alan Keary, Electric Bass, MainArtist - Joseph Reiser, Engineer - Abel Selaocoe, Composer, Cello, Percussion, Vocals, MainArtist - Sidiki Dembélé, Percussion, MainArtist - Manchester Collective, Ensemble, MainArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2025 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2024 Parlophone Records Limited
Fred Thomas, Producer, Percussion, MainArtist - Dudù Kouate, Percussion, MainArtist - Alan Keary, Electric Bass, MainArtist - Joseph Reiser, Engineer - Abel Selaocoe, Composer, Cello, Vocals, MainArtist - Sidiki Dembélé, Percussion, MainArtist - Manchester Collective, Ensemble, MainArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2025 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2025 Parlophone Records Limited
Rakhi Singh, Violin, MainArtist - Fred Thomas, Producer, Percussion, MainArtist - Dudù Kouate, Percussion, MainArtist - Alan Keary, Electric Bass, MainArtist - Joseph Reiser, Engineer - Abel Selaocoe, Composer, Cello, Percussion, Vocals, MainArtist - Manchester Collective, Vocals, Ensemble, MainArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2025 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2025 Parlophone Records Limited
Rakhi Singh, Violin, MainArtist - Fred Thomas, Producer, Percussion, MainArtist - Dudù Kouate, Percussion, MainArtist - Alan Keary, Electric Bass, MainArtist - Joseph Reiser, Engineer - Abel Selaocoe, Composer, Cello, Percussion, Vocals, MainArtist - Manchester Collective, Vocals, Ensemble, MainArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2025 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2025 Parlophone Records Limited
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer - Fred Thomas, Producer, Arranger - Joseph Reiser, Engineer - Abel Selaocoe, Cello, MainArtist - Manchester Collective, Ensemble, MainArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2025 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2024 Parlophone Records Limited
Fred Thomas, Producer, Percussion, Piano, MainArtist - Dudù Kouate, Percussion, MainArtist - Joseph Reiser, Engineer - Abel Selaocoe, Composer, Cello, Vocals, MainArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2025 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2025 Parlophone Records Limited
Marin Marais, Composer - Fred Thomas, Producer, Arranger - Joseph Reiser, Engineer - Abel Selaocoe, Arranger, Cello, Vocals, MainArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2025 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2025 Parlophone Records Limited
Fred Thomas, Producer, Percussion, MainArtist - Ruth Gibson, Viola, MainArtist - Dudù Kouate, Percussion, MainArtist - Alan Keary, Electric Bass, MainArtist - Joseph Reiser, Engineer - Abel Selaocoe, Composer, Cello, Percussion, Vocals, MainArtist - Sidiki Dembélé, Percussion, MainArtist - Manchester Collective, Ensemble, MainArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2025 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2025 Parlophone Records Limited
Giovanni Sollima, Composer - Fred Thomas, Producer - Joseph Reiser, Engineer - Abel Selaocoe, Cello, MainArtist - Manchester Collective, Ensemble, MainArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2025 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2025 Parlophone Records Limited
Giovanni Sollima, Composer - Fred Thomas, Producer - Joseph Reiser, Engineer - Abel Selaocoe, Cello, MainArtist - Manchester Collective, Ensemble, MainArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2025 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2025 Parlophone Records Limited
Fred Thomas, Producer, Percussion, MainArtist - Dudù Kouate, Percussion, MainArtist - Alan Keary, Electric Bass, MainArtist - Joseph Reiser, Engineer - Abel Selaocoe, Composer, Cello, Percussion, Vocals, MainArtist - Sidiki Dembélé, Percussion, MainArtist - Manchester Collective, Ensemble, MainArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2025 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2025 Parlophone Records Limited
Album review
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 Bantu 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 Bantu 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. © Pierre Lamy/Qobuz
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:58:14
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: Abel Selaocoe
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Warner Classics
- Genre: Classical
A Warner Classics release, © 2025 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2025 Parlophone Records Limited
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