A truly beautiful soul

Her mother sat beside her and pumped the pedals to generate the music for the hymns at the Morton Memorial Church, where she eventually became musical director for many years. She carved out a brilliant record of academic achievement from Guaico Presbyterian School, through Arima High School then to St Joseph’s Convent, and then abroad to McGill University and later to London University, where she majored in piano performance and the teaching of music. She won scholarships, one after the other at these prestigious institutions.

In Canada she gained experience with the Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC), as well as in recitals in Montreal and in Vermont, USA. In England, she served as pianist with the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

Mahase-Samaroo was the first Trinidadian pianist invited to appear in concert recitals at Queen’s Hall during its inaugural fund-raising concerts. Here she played mainly classical pieces. But then she was a true Trini, who very early saw the tremendous potential of the steel pan and so she adapted easily to this genre. In 1962, the SAGHS’ choir was the first in the country to appear accompanied by a steel orchestra, first at the school, and then from 1967 regularly at Queen’s Hall and other venues. Said the eulogist: “Mum was the first musician to write and arrange musical scores for steelpan and choir. By this time too, as a true Trini, she had added a full range of Caribbean music to her ever-widening repertoire.

Who can forget the choir’s rendition of Mangoes, or Every time ah pass, you whistling me, or Take me down to Los Iros but doh let me mother know?” “How well do we remember her enchanting accompaniment at weddings, speech days, funerals and anniversaries right here in Curepe and in many other areas across the country? How well do we remember the positive vibes which the nation received from Radio Sunday School during the decade of the 1960s when mum and dad journeyed to Port-of-Spain in their Volkswagen beetle on Sunday afternoons after they had conducted morning worship in far-off places like Cunaripo, Cumuto and Guaico? In the dark of December nights this tireless woman would be at the head of a carolling group walking towards the Cumuto police station or the Guaico-Tamana Presbyterian School, daring to go where the brave dared not go.” Mahase-Samaroo retired three times after 44 years as music mistress of SAGHS where her younger sister Anna was principal for 32 years. Up to the time of her passing, she remained musical director of the St Augustine Chorale, comprising alumnae of the school and voices of male friends, which in 2002 received the Humming Bird Medal Gold. It was under her direction that the school’s music programme was extended from forms one to six, where the students were exposed to many musical instruments in arrangements devised by this master musician.

She composed the school’s alma mater song, and fittingly the SAGHS music room has been named after her.

A few weeks before his passing, Reverend Everson T Sieunarine, a close family friend, had written a poem entitled For Lenore, which captured the essence of her pleasant personality and passion for music.

Lord, you blessed her with a wondrous treasure Expertise in music beyond simple measure Never selfish or boastful she offered her talent On stage, chancel, in class, she was whom God sent Reached many by example and truly did show Enriched with great music keeps living aglow.