By Frederick Philander WINDHOEK THE well-known Cantare Audire and the Nedbank choirs will present a musical concert tonight in the St Mary’s Cathedral and thereafter at several other venues in the capital and at Swakopmund until the 25th of this month The programme includes a varied choice of music spanning six centuries. TheÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ opening piece,ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ “Ave verum”, byÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ William Byrd (1543 – 1623), is one of the most beautiful and moving pieces of music ever written.ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ It is one of the Cantare Audire Choir’s favourite pieces as it is was part of the programme with which they won first prize at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in Wales, 22 years ago. Komm suesser Tod (Come sweet Death), aÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ well-known chorale by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750), is presented in a new guise by the twentieth century Danish composer,ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ Knut Nystedt under the title “Immortal Bach”. In 1939 the American composer Samuel Barber arranged his Adagio for Strings forÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ a cappella (unaccompanied) choir under the title AgnusÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ Dei (Lamb of God)ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ and the piece has since become the favourite of many choirs round the globe. Audiences will hear two original compositions by the conductor, Ernst van Biljon.ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ Psalm 23, in Afrikaans is based on words from the new Bible, “Die Blye Boodskap”.ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ The second piece, “Laudate Dominum” (Praise God) is part of the Roman Catholic Mass and is sung in Latin.ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ Ernst made a cappella arrangement ofÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ever popular “Pie Jesu”, a piece of haunting beauty, originally composed forÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ soprano, boy soprano, choir and orchestra. The programme includes well-known Christmas songs like “O little town of Bethlehem” amd “Away in a Manger” in new and fresh arrangements by German composer Joh. Peter Gampl and Swedish composer and choir conductor Robert Sund. The Nedbank Singers make a contribution to the concerts with “Ave Maris Stella” by Edvard Grieg, a popular old Russian Hymn, “Tebje Pajom” (O Lord grant Peace) by Dmitri Bortnianski andÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ two religious African songs. TheÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ concert will be concludedÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ with the joint the Cantare Audire Choir and Nedbank SingersÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ with two Russian songs by Paul Tschesnokoff.