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Otago Daily Times
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Impressive and vibrant experience
Knox Church. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH Billed as African folk music with a jazz twist, "Zimbe!" certainly filled Knox Church to capacity for unique ethnic music as David Burchell conducted City Choir's midwinter concert on Saturday evening. They began with The Word was God, by Rosephanye Powell — a strictly paced, declamatory, canon-styled piece (unaccompanied). The followingwere generally brisk, full-harmony pieces composed in 1993 by David Hamilton, althoughwas a softer rendition of well-known text. Dunedin Children's Choir contributed three items and joined for the main work. This choir, founded and conducted by Natasha Manowitz, performs with excellence and discipline, maintaining clear diction and well-intoned balanced harmony. Their waiata, Ehara i te mea, by Eru Timoko Ihaka, was accompanied by guitar (Helen Rutherford). 1914, written by Sue Mepham, told the story of horses who were used in World War 1 — "10,000 left our shore but only four returned". Banaha, a Congolese folk song with djembe accompaniment (Andre Harry), completed their performance. Their pianist was Susan Frame. Zimbe! Come, Sing the Songs of Africa, a vibrant celebration of African music and culture composed by Alexander L'Estrange, brings together soulful melodies, energetic rhythms and infectious harmonies showcasing rich musical African traditions, rooted in the American "Gospel" tradition. An outstanding jazz ensemble of Bill Martin (piano), Nick Cornish (saxophone), Andy Lynch (bass), Carl Woodward (drums) and Alex Burchell (percussion) provided exceptional accompaniment which carried the singers' performance. Catherine Schroder showcased African dance routines in the centre aisle. Many of the 15 songs had the colourfully clad choir moving and clapping, and so were the audience. The drummers were sensational, especially in the triumphant final repeat of Freedom is Coming — Hamba Vangeli. Thula Mama, thula, a lullaby for mothers of imprisoned sons, was softer with emotional sax obligato. Altogether, this was an outstanding musical experience for choir and patrons alike.
Scoop
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Dunedin Children's Choir Joins City Choir Dunedin In Singing The Songs Of Africa
We are pleased that the Dunedin Children's Choir will join City Choir on stage in this concert. Led by choral director Natasha Manowitz, the Dunedin Children's Choir was formed in 2023 for 7–15-year-olds in the Dunedin region. The Children's Choir offers a supportive environment where children can discover the joy of singing, enhance their vocal abilities and develop their musicianship, fostering a lifelong love of music. In 2010 City Choir Dunedin presented the Australasian première of Alexander L'Estrange's song cycle: Zimbe! Come Sing the Songs of Africa. 'This infectiously joyful and energetic community show had the audience clapping along and won all performers a standing ovation' and 'a huge crowd singing at full throttle is tremendously exhilarating and a sight to gladden the world-weary' a reviewer wrote. Now, 15 years later, City Choir is again presenting this song cycle with the combined forces of City Choir and the Dunedin Children's Choir, accompanied by a jazz ensemble of Bill Martin (piano), Nick Cornish (saxophone), Andy Lynch (bass), Carl Woodward (drums) and Alex Burchell (percussion). City Choir does not often perform with a jazz ensemble, but for Zimbe! the jazz musicians will enhance the rhythm and movement called for by the African folk music. David Burchell is the conductor. L'Estrange, known for his creative versatility, describes Zimbe! as 'coming from the seeds of my affinity with African music and the gospel tradition'. The Oxford graduate has collected traditional songs and backed them with jazz. The collection reflects the role of music in everyday life in Africa – from sunrise to sunset, or as the song 'Ilanga libuya, ilanga liyaphuma' more optimistically puts it 'the sun sets… the sun rises'. The young voices of the children will lend authenticity to two of the Zimbe! songs, both originating from Ghana: 'Sansa Kroma' (playground song) and 'Pete Pete!' (children's song celebrating food and family). Zimbe! brings together soulful melodies, energetic rhythms, and infectious harmonies that showcase the rich musical traditions of Africa. It is a sound filled with sunshine and dust, sadness and joy, spirituality, hope and defiance, suffering and celebration, poverty and unity. Other items on the programme include the a cappella works The Word Was God by Rosephanye Powell, and Three Spirituals by David Hamilton. Perfect for all ages, this concert will create a powerful and uplifting experience. Don't miss the opportunity to be transported by the joyful spirit of Zimbe! —music that will leave your heart singing and your feet tapping! Event Details: What: City Choir Dunedin presents Zimbe! African Folk with a Jazz Twist When: Saturday 12 July, at 7:00 pm Where: Knox Church, 449 George Street, Dunedin Conductor: David Burchell Choirs: City Choir Dunedin and Dunedin Children's Choir Jazz Quintet: Bill Martin (piano), Nick Cornish (saxophone), Andy Lynch (bass), Carl Woodward (drums) and Alex Burchell (percussion)
