In a thrilling finale to Monday night's Music Festival, judges had to ask two choirs to repeat their performances to determine a winner in the Folk Song Choir category. It was a dramatic musical affair in the LN Blanche-Fraser Cup for Folk Song Choirs in the second championship round at Naparima Bowl, San Fernando.
The night's competition was fiercely contested by Central Bank Notes Choir of the North, Signalite Chorale, representing Tobago, and South's Suite Chorale. Following the performances and judges' deliberations, international adjudicator Dr Richard Tang Yuk requested a showdown between the Signalite Chorale and Suite Chorale which the southerners won.
Suite Chorale, singing Freetown Girls, evoked the humour and passion associated with folk songs and clearly demonstrated countrymen's fondness of urban women. While performing they were able to paint a picture of the country women's jealousy of the more fashionable women of Freetown. Despite going back to the sister isle without the trophy, the Signalite Choir could be proud that their performance was well received by the audience.
The Tobagonians filled their presentation of Rukumbine with simulated emotions and comical facial expressions as they thrilled patrons. According to Tang Yuk, all performances within the category were well orchestrated. However, he said his panel of judges needed to be certain of the winner, hence requesting a showdown. He said the Suite Chorale prevailed as they met the necessary requirements of a folk song which included having the correct balance, tuning and arrangement.
He explained that Suite Chorale was best able to portray a vision in the minds of the audience, which won them the trophy. Though the Tobago team lost out, their fellow islanders, Music Amateurs Ladies, were successful in taking the TTMA Trophies in the Ladies Vocal Quartets, Mixed Vocal Quartet and the Mixed Voice Choir classes, beating their southern rivals each time.
Music Amateurs clearly stole the show in their categories with sweet melody and immense unison in rendering the test pieces of P Knight and P Lawson's Danny Boy and J Farmer and N Cox's Fair Phyllis. It was a night filled with exciting and energetic renditions in both vocal and instrumental categories.
Northern representatives - Flabej Now Ensemble, Kezia Douglas, Jeerel Samuel and Kesica Brewster-had all won trophies but were the only participants in their classes.
Results
Michelle Khan Memorial Trophy (Chamber Music Trio) Flabej Now Ensemble, North;
JT Johnson Challenge Trophy (Flute Solo) Devin Debie, North.
TTMA Trophy (Clarinet Solo)
Kezia Douglas, North.
TTMA Trophy (Saxophone)
Jeerel Samuel, North.
James B Sinanan Memorial Trophy (Chamber Music Duet) Kesica Brewster and Amanda Manmohan, North.
TTMA Trophy (Gents' Vocal Quartet) Suite Chorale Quartet.