HITTING THE RIGHT NOTES
TWO Cape Town singers are beaming with pride as their take on gospel song
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot plays on radio stations in New Zealand and the UK.
The song was originally composed by Wallace Willis in 1860, a freed American slave who composed a number of African spirituals in the 1800s.
Bianca Solomons, 17, an opera singer, and her vocal coach Maritza Truter, 31, both from Bellville, have received rave reviews for their cover of the song released only four weeks ago.
The cover came after the pair was informed by their public relations manager David Gummers from the UK about controversy arising for the song to be used at a rugby event. Gummers said: “The reason it became the English anthem was because it was sung at Twickenham in 1987 when Martin Offiah, nicknamed Chariots Offiah, was hailed for his try-scoring ability. A few years later, Chris Oti, another flying winger, scored a hat-trick and the crowd again burst into song. In rugby terms, the chariot is the ball being carried over the tryline. When the England Rugby Football Union started to discuss whether this anthem was a suitable song to be sung at rugby matches in 2020, Bianca and Maritza thought that such a song could be an educational tool to teach people about the past.”
The duo said the song brought hope and should be celebrated.
It will feature on KykNet on DStv on Sunday.