The group ‘Ladysmith Black Mambazo’ sings without musical instruments (a cappella) and they have a performance style which is a mixture of traditional South African Zulu songs and South African isicathamiya dance moves (a soft, shuffling style of dance with choral part-singing).

Their Music:

1. 1973- Nomathemba- This means ‘Mother of Hope’ and was their first hit single.
2. 1976- Wazithwal’Izono Jesu- Many of their songs became Christian after Joseph
   became Christian himself.
3. 1999-I Shall be There- A pop collaboration with Irish group B*Witched.
4. 2003- Selingelethu Sonke- The first song written by the group all about fair trade in
   Africa.
5. 2006- Long Walk to Freedom- – A song about the struggles of apartheid.

Interesting Facts!

• Ladysmith Black Mambazo have made over 50 albums and are South
  Africa’s best-selling musicians.
• Group founder Joseph Shabalala retired from performing in 2014 and sadly died in February 2020 at the age of 78.
• Four of his sons still sing and perform with the group and they continue to perform shows around the world.

Listen to Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s Music!

Joni Mitchell is famous for her emotional and musical range within her songs. Her voice forms part of this and she has influenced many female singers and musicians since the 1960s
and 1970s when she was at the height of her fame. Much of her music was folk in style, playing mainly guitar or piano, but she moved into more complicated jazz in the 1970s.

Joni Mitchell’s Music:

1. 1969- Chelsea Morning- A folk song about living freely.
2. 1969- Both Sides Now- Heart-breaking song about ambition and failure.
3. 1970- Big Yellow Taxi- A song about looking after the environment but also about a
   failed relationship.
4. 1971- River- This song has now become a Christmas classic.
5. 2007- One Week Last Summer- An instrumental song which won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Pop Song in 2008.

Interesting Facts!

• The polio she contracted when she was 9 weakened her left hand, so she
  created alternative tunings on her guitar to make it easier; she later used these tunings to create non-standard approaches to harmony and structure in her song writing.
• Joni was well-known for her distinctive voice. She was able to sing in three octaves so her pitch could range from very high to low, although her voice has become lower in age.
• Joni studied art at college. She continued to produce artwork through her life, as well as write and perform music.

Listen to Joni’s Music!

Mozart’s music was of a Classical style and he composed in
many different forms: opera, chamber music, symphony and solo
concertos. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was not only one of the greatest composers of the Classical period, but one of the greatest of all time. Mozart is said to have had a major influence on classical music, particularly after his death.

Mozart’s Music:

1. 1764- Symphony No 1 – Molto allegro- His first symphony written at just 8 years old
   and was composed while he was in London on tour.
2. 1777- Oboe Concerto in C major- His only oboe concerto and one which is fairly
   fast moving.
3. 1787- The Marriage of Figaro- A funny and lively opera with practical jokes
   and trickery, much like Mozart’s personality.
4. 1790- The Magic Flute- One of his most famous operas about a prince,
   a serpent, and three ladies who produce an enchanted flute with the power to change men’s hearts.
5. 1791- Requiem- Whilst composing this, he said he had ‘very strange thoughts’ and that it felt like he was writing it for his own death. It became an unfinished masterpiece as he died without ever completing it.

Interesting Facts!

• Mozart enjoyed a game of billiards as well as dancing.
• He also kept many pets such as a birds (he had a canary and a starling), a
  dog and even a horse which he would sometimes ride.
• Reasons for Mozart’s early death are unknown but, after his death, a statue was created and placed in Salzburg, Mozart’s birthplace.

Listen to Mozart’s Music!