A tie for Ladies’ choirs

Two ‘Ladies’ voice choirs – religious music (over 20 singers) sung their hearts out to get the Ashdown Cup, but they were so good that in the end the adjudicators Professors Melvin Hurst and Mary Legge agreed that the cup should go to both choirs – Lydian Ladies’ Choir, and Point Fortin Trinmar Community Chorale.

Lydians had to perform two test pieces – Pueri Concinite, by Jacob Handl, and Jesu, joy of man’s Desiring – by Johann Sebastian Bach, while the Point Fortin Chorale were permitted their own choice of tunes. They sang “Be True and Faithful until Death,” and “Hark I hear the Harps Eternal.” Golden Hands Steel Pan Ensemble from the south outdid the north and Tobago competitors with their piece from the “Rainmakers” to win the Fitzgerald Jemmott Memorial Trophy, which was presented by Beresford Hunte of Catelli Trinidad All Stars.

Other ensembles in that class included Lydian Steel Ensembly which played the “Second and Third Movements of Summer” from “Four Seasons,” while Bishop’s Alumni Symphonic Steel Ensemble performed “Good Times” a Marc Loquan piece which was arranged by Cliff Alexis.

Hurst noted that while pieces were allotted three to eight minutes period, Bishop’s had overstepped the mark and had gone to nine minutes.

Hurst noted that each of the three ensembles were very descriptive in their music, but among the requirements looked for by the judges were the challenge in the music, harmony and melodic lines, and dynamic contrasts in the music.

In the wind instrumental classes – Marcus Bernard on the flute; Bradley Wint on the clarinet, and Jesse Ryan on the saxophone. At the end of it all, there was no guessing that Jesse Ryan was the winner of the J T Johnson Cup.

With feeling and much expression Ryan blew his way to winner’s row.

Lydian singer, Germaine Wilson, scored another first again. This time she won the Chesterton Ali Memorial Trophy for producing the best Vocal Recital. Among her three pieces were “Little David Play on your Harp,” and Gershwin’s “My Man is Gone. From Me” The competition tonight shifts to the Naparima Bowl in San Fernando, starting at 7 pm.