Pan Royale ends

Tobago’s Signal Hill Alumni Choir with RBTT Redemption Soundsetters Steel Orchestra gave an outstanding performance at “Voices and Steel,” the final programme of Pan Royale 2003, staged at the Queen’s Royal College (QRC) grounds in St Clair last Sunday evening.

Among the champion choir’s nine-song contribution was a refreshingly creative and challenging arrangement by musical director John Arnold of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” that sparked loud and favourable comments from the thousands of patrons  present. Known and appreciated for introducing a series of choreographed moves with its vocal presentations, Signal Hill used its 45 minutes on stage to offer listeners a pleasurable mixture of sight and sound. Redemption Soundsetters opened the segment doing “Dancing Queen” and a medley of Ray Holman compositions, after which the choir, in its inimitable style, performed “Siyaka Bonga,” “Fly Me To The Moon” and “Morena Osha,” before giving its unique interpretation to a medley of 2003 soca songs. The two then joined to present “Hosanna,” “Um-bayayo,” “Rainorama” and “Refevela.” Also appearing on the playbill were the Nazarene District Choir with Nazarene Worship Centre Steel Orchestra and Christopher “Tambu” Herbert as a special guest, Marionettes Chorale with Renegades Jnr Steel Orchestra, and Lydian Singers with Lydian Steel.

The Nazarene combination opened offering high-spirited songs of praise, including a charming version of the 23rd Psalm. Herbert then lent powerful voice to two selections, one of which, “Give God His Praise,” was delivered gospelypso style. Marionettes, led by Greta Taylor, came next, showcasing its established class. Controlled vocal harmonising was evident in its choices that included “The Holy City;” “O Holy Ground;” “Summertime,” with soloing by Renee Solomon; “I Love The Lord,” with a solo by Jacqueline Johnson; “Down By The Riverside;” “My Tribute;” and “Hallelujah Chorus.” Led by Pat Bishop, the Lydians brought Pan Royale 2003 to a spectacular close with a sterling performance. Strong, well received solo contributions from its acclaimed singers, Eddie Cumberbatch and Joanne Pyle, were complemented by the smooth playing of Lydian Steel in which famed pannist Robbie Greenidge was a featured player. Greenidge revived pleasant memories of the National Steelband Panorama Competition when he led the orchestra in presenting an electrifying version of “Fire Coming Down,” his composition that won Witco Desperadoes Steel Orchestra the Panorama championship in 1994. Boosted with a rhythmic input from the Krishna Soogrim Tassa Drummers, the Lydians gave a spunky interpretation to “Trini To The Bone,” before ending the event with a rousing rendition of the “Hallelujah Chorus.” Show host for the evening’s programme was radio personality Winston Maynard.