Sunday, December 11, 2011

Good Live music

exists in Guyana!!
Diverted from a school sing-along social as invited two friends to The Georgetown Chamber Choir's 'Teach The World A Song' concert at St George's Cathedral.
Even though there were initial technical difficulties and a delay of 40 minutes as the Mothers' Union had a service up to 15 minutes before the advertised starting time of the performance, they did not 'cut' any of the four stanzas of the National Anthem - loyalties aside, Guyana has one of the most tuneful with very poignant words- I got goosebumps at the third stanza:

 Great land of Guyana, diverse though our strains, 
We are born of their sacrifice, heirs of their pains, 
And ours is the glory their eyes did not see,

and wished all this election madness could all be over- the latest being the container housing the ballot boxes being broken into!
There was varied music - mainly uplifting with a heavy dash of Gospel supplemented by The Gospel Heralds.
A surprising touch to me were the few pieces in Italian! They also introduced some World music- an invocation by the Xhosa people and  a combined song using lyrics from Nambia and Gujerat ( Western India not Northern!) - I liked the Clicking sound of the former as I remembered a popular Miriam Mabeka  song from childhood. There were a few popular Christmas Carols but on the whole a refreshing introduction to different Live Choral Music. Kudos to the three people manning the musical apparatus- the invited Gospel singers depending on singing over the actual song I thought.
The inside of the Cathedral looked good - it had been under extensive refurbishment and one of the friends who had never visited it liked the stained glass - mmm, more Guyanese need to be invited to appreciate their Country.They had us singing this simple song a few times to spread their message of joy, hope and love by Jeff  Moss:

One small voice can teach the world a song,
Start with one small voice, till another joins along,
Then you'll feel the music growing full and sure and strong,
One small voice can teach the world a song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scd8yK8a19w&feature=related

2 comments:

  1. Thank you for being at the concert. We appreciate your kind support.

    Regards,
    Dwayne Hackett
    Georgetown Chamber Chorus

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  2. No Dwayne-- the thanks must come from this end-- we appreciate the hard work put in by everyone concerned to stage something like that- Guyana's circumstances are challenging to say the least-- but start with one small voice, till another comes along...

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