Exeter College enjoys an evening of gospel music, spirituals, and hymns

Exeter College Chapel is no stranger to spiritual music, with regular evensong and College Choir performances, but on 6 June it was the venue for something a little different and incredibly special. Former Visiting Fellows Delvyn Case and John Pfumojena performed a unique concert, titled “Found in Translation: Multicultural Explorations of the Bible,” which featured one-of-a-kind arrangements for voice, mbira, and piano of gospel songs, African American spirituals, and hymns. The extraordinarily powerful concert was filmed and is now available to listen to online. 

Deus Ex Musica founder Delvyn Case first met Zimbabwean composer John Pfumojena while they were both Visiting Fellows at Exeter College. Together they worked to create a unique musical experience, bridging the gaps between disparate musical, spiritual, and religious cultures. The concert aimed to celebrate the power of sacred music to foster Christian unity; while also challenging audience members to consider the ways the church has fallen short of its ideals. 

John Pfumojena, known as John Falsetto on stage, is a master of mbira and marimba instruments and composes and arranges music rooted in the aesthetics of the Shona people from Zimbabwe. His practice concerns intercultural collaboration and the joining of cultures through performance.  

Delvyn Case founded Deus Ex Musica to promote the use of sacred music as a resource for spiritual formation. He has written on the intersections of music and Christianity. His quartet “Psalms of Ascent” saw him named Distinguished Composer of the Year by the Music Teachers National Associations (MTNA).  

The College Chapel was full for the concert and provided ideal acoustics. The audience was treated to a memorable and uplifting performance, which you can now experience as well.  

Congratulations to both John Pfumojena and Delvyn Case on a profoundly moving performance.  

Watch the full performance of “Found in Translation” here.