Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer
Members of the The University Singers perform during 'A Benefit Performance' at the Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts, Mona last Thursday night. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
THE UNIVERSITY Singers made more than a joyful noise on Thursday night at the Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts, University of the West Indies, Mona. They made wondrous ecstatic music, which displayed their diversity and skill in both voice and musical arrangement.
Thursday night's performance was a benefit for the UWI's Registry. As with each yearly performance, the Singers delivered music from a range of genres this year ranging from the classics to disco.
Though both segments were delightful, with as literal a meaning as that word can get, the first half this year proved stronger. Of particular note were the renditions of 'Alleluia (Laudes Creaturarum)' and 'The Lord's Prayer'.
'Alleluia' a hymn by St. Francis of Assisi was arranged by Franklyn Halliburton. It was a magnificently flamboyant delivery that was apt to leave one breathless. Halliburton has been displaying impressive skills at arranging and conducting, this year taking over those duties from the group's musical director, Noel Dexter. Halliburton also arranged 'Good News' with soloists Carol Dexter and Carolyn Reid which helped to put a comic spin on the gospel and spirituals segment. The concert also features his own composition 'Ode to Nana Tano' using the words from Kamau Brathwaite's The Arrivants: A New World Trilogy.
'The Lord's Prayer', arranged by Kathy Brown, rested perfectly against the dramatic flourish of 'Alleluia'. For this piece, the room was shrouded in darkness which stretched across the audience and the performers who had descended to form a tight semi-circle around their conductor. The piece began softly, easily buoyed by the smooth husky vocals of soloist Claudine Hyatt.
The spirituals segment also featured the soulful pleading 'Lord I Want to be a Christian' performed by Ana Strachan accompanied by piano, 'Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel with soloist Raymonde Rohan before culminating in the spirited 'Long As I Got King Jesus' with the remarkable solo from Nickette Morgan.
It was then time for the first bit of reggae to bubble forth with the Djenné Greaves arranged Bob Marley medley dubbed 'Play I Some Music' which featured several of Marley's music themed songs. The first half was brought to an end with 'Give Thanks and Praises' featuring a sample of 'Call Pon God' which would certainly give Elephant Man pause. The piece was arranged by Noel Dexter.
The second half of the show dealt with the folk and the popular. It began with the segment dubbed 'Real Jamaican Tunes' arranged by Dexter. The piece, a combination of popular tunes using folk rhythms and a folk song was a quite apt start for the segment. It comprised the pieces 'Emancipation Park', 'Blinking Bus' and the political satire 'Find Your Way Back Home'.
It was then time to sing about food with the first trio of folk songs which started with a saliva inducing delivery of 'Roas' Breadfruit'. A double-pronged take on 'Yellow Yam' followed. The song was first given with amusing ironic effect with a delicate version sung in English. It was then repeated with more belly and bass added to the vocals for a more traditional delivery. 'Dip and Fall Back' completed the trio.
The folk segment also featured women and men songs as well as a Pentecostal Suite. A journey into disco, arranged by Dexter created the penultimate piece and the show culminated with 'Dancehall Potpourri' arranged by Greaves.
