Na Le ’Na?

‘Na Le ’Na?’ was published in Morija, Lesotho in 1955 as song No. 24 of 29 songs in Hosanna: Lipina tsa Kereke (Hosanna: Church Songs), anthems intended to celebrate the major Christian festivals. Mohapeloa’s eight songs in Hosanna are longer and musically more complex than most of the ones by other composers. With its repeated and somewhat developed motifs, ‘Na Le ’Na?’ shows a profound understanding of the structure and style of Western church music. At the same time, its modality in some places (using the flattened 7th degree of the scale) and its call-and-response opening, recall the African folk music that Mohapeloa grew up with. This is the only song in Hosanna that has a brief solo part, and in its simple message of faith in face of approaching death – ‘Are you calling me, too, oh Lord?’ – it is one of the most moving and beautiful songs in Mohapeloa’s entire output.