How to play "O A Ntwanela"

"O A Ntwanela" by Mmatema Moremi is South African gospel worship at 104 BPM. The title means "You are worthy" in Sesotho. A reverent, unhurried song. The piano leads the room into stillness.

1. The key: A major

A major. Scale: A, Bm, C♯m, D, E, F♯m, G♯dim. Song lives in 1, 4 and 6m mostly.

2. The chord shape

Verse: 1 to 6m to 4 to 5. Chorus: 4 to 1 to 5 to 6m, with the 5 stretched into a suspended chord at the end of each phrase. The Mmatema recording shows the pacing.

3. The Sunday-ready play

• Right hand: 1 as Amaj7 (A, C♯, E, G♯). Every chord gets the 7 for warmth.
• Left hand: whole notes. Root on the downbeat.
• One move to add: an Esus4 (E, A, B) held for two beats before every resolution to the 1. That suspension is the reverent breath the song needs.

4. When the leader calls a different key

Choir directors move this song for the alto's range. Numbers hold. Use Gig Mode to transpose.

Next step

Play Nizolibonga next. Same A, different praise energy, faster.