"MUSIC FROM THE HOUSE" OF DAVID

LDC Choir in action

The House of David, one of the twin ensembles of Sam Manyika’s Mainsound Music stable, shares the worship ethic of its namesake and flagship psalmist King David.

The group’s latest offering “Music from the House” is a refreshing worship toolkit, jam-packed with applicable biblical messages.

Subtitled “Heavenly Download,” the album has the marks of wholesome gospel music – artistic edge, doctrinal angle and spiritual impact.

Sharon Manyika Machingura, Martha Zindana Mangisi, Udzu Paradza and Vimbai Mazendama deliver the vocals while Wanda Zonke’s saxophone underlies the whole effort with a jazzy signature.

The album features eight tracks all written by Pastor Manyika except for one by Udzo Paradza and a chorus in the public domain.

Just as the essence of action in Brazil right now is playing to score, the opening track “Zvinoendesa” reminds Christians that the essence of religion is praying to make heaven.

The song reminds Christians that having a good church, a range of posh rides, an anointed pastor and wealthy fellow congregants are all legitimate blessings to be cherished but not qualification enough to enter heaven.

One must individually have a note of conviction, without hiding behind pastors, denominational attributes and material possessions, that they are saved and going to heaven.

“Mupedza Nhamo” urges constant prayer as the way to stay firewalled from trouble and as the secret for basking in the power of God.

“Ndiye” emphasises the centrality of Jesus Christ to the gospel message, commendably so because there is no gospel apart from Jesus, no salvation without his cross, no remission of sins without his blood and no portal to heaven except his name.

The track points to Jesus as the all-sufficient enabler for peace, crossing over to destiny, victory over life’s challenges and continual rejuvenation for greater exploits.

“Richawa” recalls the David-Goliath story to show that no challenge is insurmountable as long as one is backed by the conquering Lion of Judah.

“Pembera, pembera parigwa mukono zvinotyisa zvaenda,” the song celebrates victory over the devil, disease, poverty, disgrace and tribulation.

In “Zvose Ndinoita” the persona declares unsparing commitment to the whole duty of saints, including the exercise of spiritual gifts, the study of God’s Word, tithing and giving, just he used to be committed to sin – small houses and all – before coming to Jesus.

“Hande” urges an entrepreneurial spirit among saints. It beckons the listener out of the comfort zone to prosperity, intimating that the “pillar of cloud” is one the move and the listener can only remain behind at their own peril.

Udzo’s song “Sevamwe” is a challenge to self-examination as to whether we are still in the faith. The song warns against holding on to a form of godliness while forfeiting its power and commends the listener to go back in time and weed out all the “lying vanities” devouring their blessings.

House of David’s sister ensemble, The Living Word Deliverance (LDC) Choir, is also on point with a recent live DVD entitled “Songs of Deliverance.”

Songs of Deliverance

I failed to establish which is the better project between the two because both offerings speak life to the soul like wholesome Christian must do, convicting, challenging and reawakening the listener to greater spiritual possibilities.

Also outstanding about the music is a consistent commitment to quality. The presentation is impassioned, painstaking and, altogether, worth the effort.

In addition to House of David vocalists, LDC features gospel thoroughbred Stanley Gwanzura (Pastor G), who staged his own live recording at Seven Arts last weekend, and Ruben Malgas.

Fifteen tracks, including “Let My People Go,” “Kana Ndichiona Ropa,” “Pane Amboona Pharaoh?” “Ruzha! Ruzha” and Sharon’s breakthrough track “Wakakosha,” all performed live, are featured on this offering.

The project is a “musical excursion that follows the deliverance and exodus of the children of God from Israel,” Pastor Manyika explains.

“As the story unfolds, the beauty of the music makes us experience the whole experience of the love and determination of God in fulfilling His promises to His people,” those that he chose to be His own,” he says.

LDC is bent on identification and projection. Viewers are tipped to locate themselves within the Mosaic odyssey and remaster confidence to make it to the end as God helps them.

“Herein we can identify with the deliverance story and with the never-changing, everlasting God of deliverance,” says Pastor Manyika.