Songs and Stories of Sharon Katz & the Peace Train

Nelson Mandela gave South African musician and music therapist Sharon Katz a mission: use your music to create a world based on fairness and justice for all people. And that's what she did in composing the songs in this book and in partnering with Zulu singer Nonhlanhla Wanda to create The Peace Train. Taking you on a joyride through its songs and stories, this book will inspire you to join in making this a kinder and more caring world.

Starting with the original performance in South Africa in 1993 with a 500-voice multiracial and multicultural choir, these compositions have now been sung around the world with choirs and orchestras of all sizes and are perfect for schools, colleges and community groups of all ages. Music therapists will also find the songs and stories beneficial in their work.

The songs are in English, several African languages and Spanish. The scores are written for first soprano, second soprano and alto, and they also include guitar chords. Links to audio and video examples are given for each song.

Illustrated stories accompany each composition and describe the historical and social situations that inspired each song and the universal themes they address.

Sharon Katz is an international composer, performer and recording artist with many songs and albums on the Grammy(c) ballot. She has jumped out of helicopters in civil war zones to sing for peace and been featured on the Carnival album with Sting, Elton John, Tina Turner and Madonna for the Rainforest Foundation.

"If there is still a human race a few years from now, it will be largely because of women like Sharon Katz, doing jobs that need to be done. Music may yet save us." - Pete Seeger