Review: Amazing Life Gospel Choir, EdFringe

Edinburgh New Town Church is a large and beautiful venue in the heart of central Edinburgh. Built in the late eighteenth century, it comes complete with plenty of seating and a tall, ornate ceiling, making it the perfect venue for a performance by a choir fifty voices strong!

The Amazing Life Gospel Choir is a Stirling-based gospel choir, drawing on both American and Scottish choral traditions in their song choices and arrangements. They are directed by Angela Mackenzie, who conducts and hosts their performances with a bubbly charisma that endears her to the audience and allows her to smoothly guide her choir through their set (and the occasional technological mishap). Her enthusiasm and authenticity are central to this choir’s appeal, with the audience being encouraged to clap and sing along with the performance if they know the words, and her life story adds a personal touch to the show.

There are a number of sonic highlights in this production. All of the voices in the choir are strong and clear (especially the various soloists) whilst the musicians who accompany them are extremely talented and play skilfully. Particularly exhilarating is the stirring rendition of ‘You Lift Me Up’, which, much as the title suggests, appears to soar straight through the roof of the church itself. Their performance of ‘Psalm 100’in the metrical style (without instruments) which was – and, in some places, remains – common in Scotland, is ethereal and poignant as the choir step in the footsteps of many other choirs from centuries ago, singing the same words in the same style as those that went before them. The finale, ‘When the Saints Go Marching In’, is also worthy of mention as being a cheerful and rousing end to the show, getting the audience on its feet and certainly being worthy of the standing ovation it earned at the performance I viewed.

There are a few minor flaws, and at some points the music (particularly the drums) was a little too loud for the choir, who sing without microphones, to be heard properly over. But by and large this production is at a high standard. It is gospel music as it should be done – interactive, engaging and passionate.

The Amazing Life Gospel Choir’srun at the Edinburgh Fringe is now at an end, but they continue to perform throughout the year, and have been invited to the Royal Albert Hall in June, so there are plenty more opportunities to see them in person!

Directed by: Angela Mackenzie
Produced by: Amazing Life Gospel Choir

Amazing Life Gospel Choir has completed its run at EdFringe. More information about the choir can be found via the below link.