Our music - the stories behind our songs
Discover the history, heritage and meaning behind the music we sing.
Our repertoire spans traditional spirituals, contemporary gospel, soul and uplifting classics.
Gospel music has its roots in African American church communities, shaped by faith, resilience, creativity and hope. Songs such as Swing Low, Steal Away and Wade in the Water originate from the struggle to escape slavery. Over time, gospel has influenced musical styles across the world. You can discover more about the incredible history of African American Music at the Carnegie Hall Timeline of African American Music from 1600 to the present.
While our choir welcomes people of all beliefs and none, much of what we sing comes from this rich cultural and musical heritage. We’ve created these song histories to share a little of that context and to explain what these songs mean to us as a choir. For each song, you’ll find:
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A short background about its origins
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Reasons why we sing it and what it means to us
We hope this helps you feel more connected to the choir and the roots of the music we’re singing.
Current repertoire
Explore the songs featured in our current performances.
Song History Archive
We’re gradually building a library of song histories from across our repertoire. Browse the songs we’ve explored so far.