We take the Jewish material and express it through the medium of music, which is more international. Its repertoire is mostly Jewish. So sometimes we have to stretch the definition to consider music like that Jewish music. During a recent tour in Eastern Europe last summer, non-Jewish songs from all the countries the Chorale visited were added. The Chorale occasionally sings a capella , but usually performs with accompaniment typically consisting of a pianist, a percussionist and a clarinetist.
Every concert is a voyage into Jewish music and Jewish culture.
We take people back through history and around the world, using Jewish music as the vehicle. Once I have their attention, once they trust me, then I can introduce some more sophisticated repertoire and take them other places. So a typical Zamir concert is going to be a real melange, including different levels of appeal. According to Jacobson, the Boston Zamir Chorale is a Jewish community chorus in the same sense. Zamir's mission is to let not only Jews but also the outside world know what a rich musical heritage we have.