- Carlington Wilmot/Freelance Photographer
Conducting in the St. Jago Cathedral, Spanish Town.
Avia Ustanny, Outlook Writer
WITHIN THE rigid, yet majestic red brick walls of the St. Jago Anglican Cathedral in Spanish Town, the sound of the organ is the only thing that moves the air. It also tells you that Trevor Beckford is home.
This is the place which he chose for himself from boyhood, and today, carefully reviewing his plans for the Easter week, the building will echo to its high tower with the sounds that he likes - music of the classical masters.
During this past holy week. Beckford was present at services at least twice each day, providing music for the assemblage.
The organist and choir master who has held these positions at Anglican Cathedral for the last 44 years says, "I grew up in this church. I listened (to predecessors William Aldred and Leo Wilson) and said I would like to be the church organist."
It was all he ever wanted a to do, and with a single-mindedness and fixity of purpose rarely seen, he pursued his dream to the day of reality.
Today, Easter morning, he will celebrate his 44th year with a week of the best music carefully selected for the worship of God during the Easter period.
SELECTIONS
On Good Friday last, attendees at the Cathedral would have also enjoyed selections including Maunder's 'Olivet to Calvary,' Bach's 'St. Mathew's Passion, Handel's Messiah and Hayden's 'Passion'.
For Beckford, Easter is the high point of the religious calendar. Ordinarily he notes, "this church is full of music. We have ordinations, funerals, weddings ... we never have a dull moment." But, Easter and Christmas are "the most prolific" seasons, he notes.
Eighty-five-year-old, retired music teacher Hemeta Ramsey says of Trevor Beckford, " I have known him since I came to Spanish Town to live in 1949 and I have watched him grow and excel. I taught him in Sunday school. His mother was a member of the church like I was until she died two years ago."
Trevor Beckford was born on January 29 to Iris Keane and Adolphus Beckford and grew up on White Church Street in Spanish Town, attending cathedral services with his mother weekly.
He was sent to private schools in Spanish Town until, desiring to get a scholarship to St. Jago High, he transferred to Barracks Primary. He succeeded in securing a half scholarship to the high school and, at age 13, began private music lessons, completing the graded examinations with success.
On leaving St. Jago, Beckford did music courses in New York and then attended the Royal School of Church Music in the United Kingston. Today he is the Jamaican representative of that body.
Taught generations
In four decades of progressive, musical mastery, the musician has taught several generations at St. Jago High School and presented oratorios and cantatas which are sought after by the discerning public. Annually in October, he presents his own show which, it has been reported, seems to get better and better every year.
For his work in music, Trevor Beckford was awarded the Order of Distinction in 1992 by the Government on Jamaica .
In 1997, he was inducted in the Caribbean Hall of Fame for his contribution to and development of music in the Caribbean.
He has also been awarded by the Phillipo Baptist church for over a decade of handling its choir. But, he is most proud of a platinum award received from St. Jago High School in 2002 for Excellence in Music, one of several awards received from that institution at which he taught from 1965 to 2000.
Trevor Beckford states, "You have to work at perfecting music. Good music is 90 per cent perspiration and ten per cent inspiration. Work at it regularly. Read good books. Listen to records. Watch conductors who are good or better than yourself. I expose myself to the best of the world and I have regular concerts so that my skills will always be honed."
Hemeta Ramsay, his associate of many years says " Trevor Beckford is a self made man. He is someone who has had his plan for his life and has worked hard to achieve his goals. He loves what he is doing. He is devoted to it. Music is Mr. Beckford's passion. He is involved with other things but in a lesser way."
"I had music in me," Beckford comments, noting that his career as a choirmaster and organist would not have been possible without this passion. "You have to feel that you love it."
If choir members and music students are not convinced that they love the music, or show by their conduct that they do not, they will soon find that a career elsewhere might suit them better. Trevor Beckford the teacher and choir master is a hard task master.
Zeal
Mrs. Gloria Grant who has known the maestro since 1959 ( he played at her wedding in 1960 and she is currently a member of the St. Jago Cathedral choir) comments, "His zeal for music controls him. The zeal for worshipping properly no short-changing of our Lord also consumes him. Because of that kind of zeal, he sometimes crosses sword with people. If you try to water down the music, the degree of worship of the Almighty (you will feel his ire). If it is the simplest service he rehearses you just as if you were going to a synod or Easter day service. It must be perfect.
"He believes in offering the best to God every time. If you cannot live up to that kind of standard, if even your robe is not buttoned properly, he will call you up. He sticks to tradition. But, in all of this he is a very devoted person and someone who takes such good care of us. If you are a chorister and there is something wrong, if he has to walk a 1000 miles he coming to find you. He keeps in touch even with those who have left the choir for years. That is the kind of devotion that he has, devoted both to human beings and to God.
Hemeta Ramsay adds that Trevor Beckford is "precise, punctilious. If he says that rehearsal begins at seven he means seven. If the hour catches you on the steps, stand where you are. If you want to perform in his oratorios or cantatas, you come before the starting time if you want to perform. When the hour comes, he bows to the director and say 'lets begin', whether one or a 1000 choir members are present.
According to Trevor Beckford, "good choirs are as good as the man or woman leading them. If you are not disciplined, they will not be. They watch you. If they see one point of failure you cannot talk to them."
Never married
The musician told Outlook that he has never married. "My life has been dedicated to the music." Now that he is older and without biological children, he admits that sometimes he "feels stupid and you wonder if you have done the right thing." But he does not regret a day spent doing what he loves. His other loves include cricket, football, athletics, and the fine arts in all their manifestations, but music remains his consuming passion.
"I personally like Hayden's "Creation Passion," he says, but he also reveres Bach who he calls the Dean of organ composers. He also likes modern composers, but points to the obvious fact that he is a specialist in church music.
"The music is fulfilling, very fulfilling," says Trevor Beckford.
Should you happen to visit the St. Jago Cathedral today, you will discover the full measure and meaning behind these words.
