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Alexander L’Estrange: ‘Zimbe!’ packs out English cathedrals

Ely and Lichfield Cathedrals have recently staged enormously successful performances of Alexander L’Estrange’s Zimbe!, an African-inspired cantata for SATB chorus, children’s choir and jazz quintet.

Both performances brought together adult singers and cathedral choristers with a multitude of children from local primary schools.  The historic buildings were packed to the rafters and drew praise from audience and performers alike. The Ryedale Festival also hosted a performance in July, with original commissioners Dorking Choral Society.  Coming up in November will be a date in Tewkesbury Abbey.

Selected audio clips of Zimbe! here:

We Shall Not Give Up the Fight
Freedom is Coming
Siyahamba
Pete Pete
Sansa Kroma

From the conductors:
‘Zimbe! is challenging yet at the same time accessible: great for the whole choral community.

Both performers and audience had a wonderful evening.
… very cleverly constructed, sustaining momentum over 40 minutes and building to a tremendous climax.

The children love learning the beautiful and simple African melodies, and get the tremendous thrill of performing them within a complex and attractive web of choral sound.

Even adult singers with little experience can learn the full chorus parts easily, and quickly get in the groove!

It is remarkably inexpensive to put on as the band is small but very effective.

Our professional bunch of experienced choristers loved it as much as the children and adults who were singing in public for the very first time.

Zimbe! fills a yawning chasm in the choral market…

Zimbe! is simple to learn, attractive to sing and exhilarating to perform: it will not be long before it is being performed across the land.’
(Peter Allwood, Headmaster, Lichfield Cathedral School)

'If you are looking for something different with immediate audience-appeal I warmly commend Zimbe! - not just because it is so singable, but also because the performance and rehearsal material has been so well prepared.'
(Paul Trepte, conductor and director or music, Ely Cathedral)

'I think the music proved infectious.  It was exciting to sing and move to, and none of the singers can get the tunes out of their heads!  The costumes were colourful, we had African paintings and decorations in the church and dramatic flowers.  The performance was a wonderful experience, thoroughly enjoyed by performers and audience alike.  One of the audience said it was the best Sunday afternoon he had had in years.'
Carol Gedye (Richmond, North Yorkshire)

From performers:
‘Zimbe! manages to be instantly approachable yet suitably challenging – it’s great fun for the performers (young and old alike) and, from the reaction at the end of Saturday's concert, it’s a sure-fire hit with audiences too.  I would recommend it to any and every Choral Society - and if you want to reach out to and involve the young singers in local schools I couldn’t think of anything better!’
(Colin Walker - music teacher, ABRSM examiner, after taking part in Zimbe! at Lichfield Cathedral, 16 May 2009)

‘I couldn’t stand still for wanting to dance to the vibrancy of the music.’
(Cathy Lamb, “Sing Up” Cathedral Outreach Programme representative/children’s choir trainer, Lichfield)

For more reviews, comments and photos, click here.

Zimbe! is now on Facebook - become a fan!

 

 

 

 
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