Happy days as University gospel choir sings from the heart
Posted on 25 July 2005
The original 11 members of the 40-strong Zamar choir - a Hebrew word meaning praise - will perform 'Songs of the Heart' by Alexander Douglas, the last of four works specially commissioned for the festival in Manchester Cathedral on Thursday 28 July. 'Songs of the Heart' has nine pieces which fuse contemporary four-part harmony in the gospel tradition, with jazz improvisation.
We're thrilled to be asked to join the Manchester Festival and to have the honour of performing a specially-commissioned work
Rebecca Watson
Founded in 2003, Zamar began by performing lunchtime concerts in the University's Department of Music, and has now grown to 40 members. This summer has been particularly busy with performances for York Carnival, at York Minster, at Woodstock, and as guest choir in a series of workshops run by the London Community Gospel Choir.
Musical director Rebecca Watson said: "We perform mainly modern gospel music, plus of course the old favourite 'Oh Happy Day'. We are usually accompanied by piano, and with bass and drums for the livelier pieces. We sometimes also perform a cappela."
Rebecca and the other students have spent two weekends on intensive rehearsals before they appear at Manchester Cathedral.
She added: "We're thrilled to be asked to join the Manchester Festival and to have the honour of performing a specially-commissioned work. We've enjoyed everything we've been involved in this year and the Manchester event is the icing on the cake!"
Notes to editors:
- The University of York is one of the liveliest centres of musical education and research in Britain. During the academic year, the Department of Music is home to more than 270 music students and a large staff of professional musicians and scholars, all engaged in the study, creation and performance of all kinds and types of music. The range of music supported includes early music and contemporary music; acoustic and digital music; world music and jazz; music for the concert hall and music for the community.
- The Zamar gospel choir is one of a number of enterprising ensembles within the Department which has a strong emphasis on performance and composition.