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CONTENTS
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LYDIANS’ MISSION STATEMENT
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GREETINGS FROM THE LYDIANS’ BOARD
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GENERAL MANAGER’S NOTE
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ABOUT THE MUSICAL DIRECTOR
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FOUNDING LIGHTS OF THE LYDIANS
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LIGHTING THE MUSICAL PATH
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THE SPARK OF COLLABORATION
11 HARRIET TUBMAN: A GUIDING LIGHT TO FREEDOM 12 PROGRAMME 14 KEEP YOUR LAMPS TRIMMED AND BURNING 15 MUSICAL LAMP LIGHTERS 17 THE HEART LIGHTS OF THE LYDIANS 18 THE LIGHT IN THE BASEMENT - LYDIAN STEEL 20 ARTIST FEATURE- MORGAN LEWIS 21 CAST & CREW 24 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Designer: Ayrïd Chandler www.ayridchandler.com Ayrïd Chandler is a graphic designer based in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago. She is a graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Atlanta, highly creative and skilled and fast becoming one of the go-to talents for brand re-imaging and design in the local Arts community. She is also fondly considered a ‘Lydian by association’ since she has been attending concerts annually from a young age with her mother. Multi-talented, with a wide range of interests, Ayrïd enjoys working with brands, along with amateur writing which comes to life through spoken word.
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OUR MISSION STATEMENT We believe in God. Our belief demands that we live in service of God’s Greater Glory. We recognise that music is a gift and that the ability to perform it is a grace this leads us to develop our skills to their fullest and to give to all who wish, our cooperation and support that they may develop their own ability. We recognise that our improvement as musicians will be achieved only through unrelenting effort, through practice and discipline, through accepting instruction and by our willingness to be patient as we teach and encourage others. The fruit of our effort we offer only to God to feed His hungry to heal His sick to educate His untaught. We offer our song as well: to bring solace where there is grief, to mark his presence where there is joy, and to bring His Name to all people. We set ourselves the goal of excellence; Perfection will not be achieved in our mortal lives but that knowledge does not remit our effort, for we know that if judged worthy, we shall hear the Perfect Harmony, Eternal; as we return to God.
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THE LYDIANS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
GREETINGS FROM THE LYDIANS’ BOARD
Brian Jones chairman
I am pleased to extend greetings and best wishes on behalf the Board. We comprise a committed group of individuals, drawn from the Choir and the Community, all of whom have had a long association with the Lydian Singers, either as singers or concert attendees. We share a desire to use our various talents to contribute to the Choir achieving excellence in their performances. Our new team has only been in existence for a few months and we are already aware of a deep debt of gratitude we owe to those who held similar roles before us. The Lydians as an entity is steeped in a long musical tradition. We acclaim the efforts of Joyce RawlinsSpence, who initially conceived that there was need for a Choir that would perform challenging and experimental music. Also included are those of the recent past, Alma Pierre and Pat Bishop who demanded the exacting performances that took the Choir to its current national and international stature. Today, that responsibility has been passed to a new musical team under whose guidance we expect new achievements. Our Board has set itself the ambitious goal of reviving and expanding an initiative of infusing new talents into the Choir and making it more accessible to wider communities. We admit that this is an onerous task, especially in the present environment, but we are undaunted. We will engage all our collective energies to this possible. We thank our many long-standing and new supporters and stakeholders who have continued to enable us to bring the best music to our beloved audiences. We recognise the dedication of our choir members and those who have played supportive roles to bring this concert to fruition. As you enjoy the music, I invite you, our stakeholders, to ‘Hold Out Your Lights’ with us, not only for this season, but throughout the year. Season’s Greetings to all.
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Lenore S. Dorset Vice Chairman Directors:
Dawn Callender Sterling Frost Leslie-Ann Whiteman Supernumerary Directors:
Glenis Potts Marielle Cooper-Leach
NOTE FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER “It’s not about who leads it, everyone has a part to play and we all have a contribution to make…” These were my words when asked for my thoughts on the future of the management of The Lydians back in 2014 for our 35th anniversary. I could not have imagined that two years later I would be the one offered the position to lead this band of merry music makers, attempting to fill the very large shoes left by my predecessor, Patrick Bertrand, with my humble ‘size eights’!
opportunity for up-and-coming soloists and small ensembles to perform for each other and the choir, while giving our members an opportunity to learn, refine and grow their musical interests and talents. In September we joined forces with other choral groups for the premier of ‘Remembrance’, a locally composed Requiem Mass, a wonderful learning experience for our members who took part. Finally, just three weekends ago we presented “In Holy Songs of Joy!” the third instalment of “Lydians on the Mount” for Advent.
In the year since taking up the position of General Manager, I have gained a new understanding, respect and admiration for how Patrick shouldered the responsibility of leading The Lydians in the years following Ms. Bishop’s untimely death. Thank you, Patrick for keeping our lamps trimmed and burning, while moving us forward.
These are but a few highlights, none of which would have been possible without the support of my management team - trust me, my mere size eights cannot do it alone! – Marva, Dennis, Alexander, Janine, Claudette, Christine, Astra, Tonya, Lorraine and Carl – Thank you! Joanne, Glenis, Jenny, Eddie and Patrick, thank you for continuing to be our anchors and corner stones. David, Dirk, Jamel, Kory, Janine, Nakita, Fidel and Christopher, you all keep our banner flying high with your voices through special quartet and solo appearances.
It seems like only yesterday we were preparing for “Christmas Calabash”. Where has the year gone?! After a successful 2016 Christmas season with literal ‘fumes’ in the coffers, (that is no exaggeration) we were able to position the choir on a steady financial keel to take on a full year of activity. This was only possible through the commitment, dedication and support of the Management team, our Board of Directors and the membership. Our year was, in typical Lydian fashion a busy one! The Easter season included charity concerts for our friends at St. Francis R.C. Church in Belmont and the All Saints Anglican Church. We also staged our second instalment of “Lydians on the Mount” for Easter in support of the monks and their missionary work at the Abbey of Our Lady of Exile at Mount St. Benedict. Life as a Lydian is one of service, something I have become even more cognisant of since assuming my new role. Lydian performances continue to be in high demand all year-round. The numerous phone calls with requests for our music/service, can be overwhelming for the faint hearted. As a result, there was rarely a week this year when we were not singing at an event, for a funeral or a wedding celebration (unfortunately we were not able to perform for all of them, as much as we would love to), but we hope that we brought joy and comfort where ever we were present. Our Lydians In-House/Young Singers showcase took place in June and continues to be a wonderful
I am heartened to see that we continue to attract new members young and young-at-heart alike, their enthusiasm and commitment is like wind to my sails! To each member of the Lydians - the new ones who will be experiencing the Queens Hall stage for the first time, as well as our committed and seasoned performers, thank you for your support. We now have a new Musical Director and an Assistant Musical Director. Thank you, Lorraine and Carl, for accepting and coming forward to make your contributions. As Lydians we continue to march forward with conviction and hope toward our 40th anniversary in 2019 (look out for big things to come). So, we are once more at Christmas, and this December we present to you “Hold Out Your Light!” The theme is relevant and needed at this time in our country and in our region. “Hope” and “Love” are much needed symbols of this light to me, especially in a year when we as Lydians have said good bye to two of our “heavenbound soldiers” – Selwyn Wiltshire and Barbara Semper. In a year where there has been so much destruction from natural disasters and as a nation we struggle to overcome economic and social ills, as artists and performers it is our duty to be the beacon! To offer our music as “light” to each of you and encourage you not to lose hope… and let your light shine. Have a happy and holy Christmas! Garnet Allen
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“Music is an intrinsic part of human society. Music has the power to hurt and to heal, to create sadness and great joy. My wish for all at this Christmas time, is that you will be filled with true joy and happiness and that our light, the light that is the Lydians, will continue to shine brightly in your lives, in all our lives, in the coming year.”
ABOUT THE MUSICAL DIRECTOR Ms. Lorraine Granderson
This Christmas is an exhilarating one for The Lydians. In August of this year, the choir received an early Christmas gift. Ms. Lorraine Granderson graciously accepted the responsibility of musical direction of The Lydians. For the last few months, she has settled in and carried forward the torch of musical direction of the group through a continued commitment to the choir’s mission of community service through the God-given gift of music, to the people of Trinidad and Tobago and the world.
after leaving school when Mrs. Spence started the choir.
No stranger to The Lydians, Ms. Granderson has many years’ experience with the Lydians, having been invited to guest conduct the choir on several occasions. She also has over 30 years’ experience conducting, teaching and working with choirs, steelbands and in independent musical productions in Trinidad and Tobago..
During her tenure, she led the choir and the steelband to several successful Music Festivals, and international music festivals. They have toured several places abroad including Wales and South Africa, eventually singing outside the hospital where the highly revered Nelson Mandela lay.
Wherever she taught, after Teachers’ Training College, she started a choir and then added a steelband, leading them successfully to music festivals. Eventually, she joined the staff of her alma mater, BAHS, as the Teacher responsible for Music where she continues to contribute to the school.
Many of the BAHS steelband players, music-literate as they are, have formed the basis of the Lydian Steel with whom she has travelled with Pat to the Baroque Festival at Coral Gables in Florida. The Lydians are blessed to have had her continue the legacy of music of the Lydians into the future.
Ms. Granderson has been involved with Music from Infant School through Primary to Bishop Anstey High School where she sang with Lydian founder, Ms. Rawlins-Spence as Music Mistress. She became a foundation member of the Lydian Singers just 5
FOUNDING LIGHTS OF THE LYDIANS The Lydians Legacy of Musical Direction
JOYCE RAWLINS-SPENCE
Mrs. Joyce Rawlins-Spence had a vision of conducting a Soprano, Contralto, Tenor, Bass Choir(SATB) and when she combined her imagination with determination and resourcefulness, her dream became reality in 1979 with the formation of The Lydian Singers. She was already famous for her discipline and diligence. She conducted a traditional SATB Choir with five members for each voice. All the ladies, save one were “Old Girls” (past pupils of Bishop Anstey High School, Port of Spain, or “Old Hilarians”) where Mrs. Spence had spent most, if not all, of her working life as a music teacher. Mrs. Spence was a salient force. She had a passion for excellence. She allowed innate creativity to flourish. Although the choir’s complement of members had doubled, Mrs. Spence still had to hear the voice before one could join. After the Christmas concert in 1982, Mrs. Spence indicated that she would no longer be able to continue directing the choir. Although it’s a well-kept secret, the Lydians were defunct for two years. Ms. Denise Stephenson was instrumental in rejuvenating the choir and in late 1984 she approached Miss Alma Pierre, who was described as a “brilliant composer” to lead the choir.
ALMA PIERRE
A common face in the adjudicator’s box at both School and Adult Panorama Competitions, Pierre also excelled as a choral trainer and conductor, serving as musical director of the Lydians Singers for several years. Under Ms. Pierre from 1984 to 1987, the Lydians grew to about forty members. She took the choir to perform via radio for the first time. Major music was performed by the Lydians at concerts which included those at All Saints Church Hall where “Onaway, Awake Beloved” from Scenes from the Song of Hiawatha was one of the solos. Unlike Mrs. Spence, Ms. Pierre chose a varied repertoire which included parang and classics, Negro Spirituals, some of which we still sing today, like “Climb Up Chillun”. Gillian Ballinthulo and subsequently Mr. Edward Henry provided the accompaniment.
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PAT BISHOP
Pat Bishop was one of the most versatile of Caribbean women - a true cultural icon. Following in the footsteps of such stalwart, musical pioneers as Mrs. Joyce Rawlins-Spence and Miss Alma Pierre seemed like a tall order, but as the third musical director of The Lydians expected to continue her predecessors’ legacies, Pat Bishop did more than hold her own. From 1987 to 2011, Pat Bishop was instrumental in establishing The Lydians as one of the Caribbean’s premier choirs. Her fervid passion to let the ethereal medium of music soothe, comfort and uplift led the choir once more to victory in 1987 at the Trinidad and Tobago Music Festival, where they were awarded the most outstanding choir and performer of the festival. Her expert training and guidance precipitated numerous triumphs for Lydian soloists and this musical legacy has been maintained over the years with the Lydians having won over thirty (30) championship trophies at the festival. It is as the Musical Director of ‘The Lydians’ that Ms. Bishop was able to bring to audiences in Trinidad and abroad her talent as a musician, producing first-class performances of the great classics by Verdi, Rossini, Dvorak, Brahms and Beethoven. She has also presented the operatic works L’Elisir D’Amore by Donizetti and Turandot by Puccini to Trinidad audiences. The choir’s number soared to over one hundred members and the Lydian Steel was founded in 1995 with their historical debut as the first ever steel orchestra to accompany a full-length opera - ‘Koanga’ be Delius. Not only were there the steelband and African drums, but the rhythm of the Tassa drums had also been incorporated to refine what is today known as “the Lydian sound’. Among her many pursuits musicologist, teacher, vocal coach, conductor of choirs, steelbands and orchestras, artist, accompanist and more, we Lydians are deeply grateful and blessed to have called her our Musical Director for twenty-four out of thirty-eight years of musical excellence. Janine Charles-Farray
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LIGHTING THE MUSICAL PATH This Christmas, The Lydians present ‘Hold Out Your Light’ - a sojourn to reconnect with the eternal source of hope and warmth. We map our journey in song. The music is an eclectic and harmonious mix of the traditional with some twists and re-imaginings rooted in the legacy of the Spiritual: soulful gospel and jazz – dashing in some inimitable Caribbean flavour! This year, we focus on the hope inherent and ever present in times we most need it. The season of Christmas is a one of joy and praise. It is the realisation of the advent hope and promise of better to come, a promise of deliverance. Rooted in that hope, we present this message through the musical legacy of the enslaved who were brought here. No other genre presents so clear and vivid an earnest hope for release and change than the negro spiritual. This music is the highlight of the programme and interwoven throughout. Music born from the soul of individual hardship and a community of peoples bonded in suffering during the time of enslavement, the spirituals have a primal resonance with all of us. The descendants of this period of history who populate This Caribbean basin can be considered the embodiment of the hope of ancestors who dream of a return to a place of love, warmth, security, equality and rest – bolstered by a strong sense of self and pride. The show charts a journey through the three “sources of light” that surround and shape our lives. It opens in the setting of The Church, presenting faith as one of the primary foundations of being. We are invited to come and gather, those faithful as well as those seeking to renew or cultivate hope. Whether joyful and triumphant, or tired and seeking “better days a coming” we are united in the search for this salve, a search universally known and transcendent of religious belief. We move to another setting - The Home. We hold our families close as foundations of strength and welcome all into ours as relatives in the wider
family of friends, neighbours and countrymen. Traditional songs of the season weave a tale of Christmas in this section of the music, sharing the warmth and humour of the season, renewing our sense of belonging and filling us with comfort. Mothers hold their children close and sing of love and wonder at the miracle of their birth, Soloists remind of the story of that holy birth long ago, juxtaposing the popular “what child is this” with the “Coventry carol,” the bloom of hope prevailing even in the face of oppression and hate, born of fear and ignorance held by those in power. There is much joy as the Christ child, our “Lord of the Dance’s” birth and purpose are narrated in the carol “Tomorrow Shall be My Dancing Day.” The programme then moves to the third source of light: Community! In a world heavily interconnected, we truly are members of a ‘global village.’ Contact across miles of land and sea is immediate, our reach and impact now have profound and unprecedented effect in this modern age. Despite this, we often lose sight of the fact that we remain connected to this support system. We forget that in the dimness of despair, we need only look around to see the luminaries within our communities that overtake us - and the light that we ourselves add to that universal incandescence. A community gathered in celebration, this section reminds us of our place in the constellation of humanity, and bids us to hold high our own light, shine forth so others may be guided and reminded to do the same. As is our tradition, in full flight we take to the Hallelujah chorus as the recessional. Like the “amen” after an earnest prayer, it lifts, gives a calming sense of peace. Thus refreshed, we send you, our family, out into the night as beacons. Hold out your light, and let your light shine around the World!
Carl Anthony Hines
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THE SPARK OF COLLABORATION At this year’s concert, the power and exhilaration of the Negro Spiritual will flow into Christmas to evoke potent emotions through music reflected in three beacons of light: The Church, The Home and The Community. To bring the production together, the Lydians called on treasured relationships built over the years with some of T&T’s best Creative Collaborators. Each represents a spark of brilliance and creativity that enhanced the presentation of this Christmas performance.
DIRECTING THE LIGHT
THE HOUSE OF LIGHT
Wendell Manwarren an actor, rapso artiste, music producer, masman, and Carnival bandleader has worked on theatrical productions which have consistently won awards both locally and internationally. As a Creative Director he is in high demand working across artistic genres from music to fashion. He has also worked with Peter Minshall at The Callaloo Company, Meiling Esau, Noble Douglas, Raymond Choo Kong, Tony Hall, Eintou Springer, Mavis John and now, guiding the Lydians with staging and creative direction. The Lydians express deepest thanks to Wendell for lighting the fire under our effort to make our performances and the theatrical transitions meet the demands of the music and the message to be conveyed.
The second half of the concert will unearth the oratory tradition of spoken word poetry performed by Muhammad Muwakil, which may include excerpts from his upcoming debut novel, “The House of Light”, which will soar into a climax of singing, drumming and dance - a jubilant celebration of the Negro Spiritual. A close creative friend of the Lydians, Muhammad Muwakil is a writer, poet, spoken word artist, musician and actor. He has shared the stage with The Lydians many times over the years, lending his considerable writing talents to accompany perfectly the music and message of a Lydians Christmas performance.
Introducing Dave Cooper
Celia Wells returns
Dave Cooper and his company Hybrid Theory Productions will make a grand debut with the Lydians for set design and construction. Cooper has worked with several major players including Island People Mas, Tribe, Red Bull, Hennessy, Xtatic Ltd, Publicist Ltd, CMB Ltd, Ross Advertising, Scorch, A.S. Brydens, Tristar Promotions, Government Ministries and many more. He greatly looks forward to bringing his fresh perspective on visual design to the magic of the Lydians sound.
Queen’s Hall lighting co-ordinator Celia Wells is no stranger to excellence in lighting design for choirs. Wells has worked with many performing groups including Queen’s Hall and other venues, but has appreciated the Lydians experience which allows for a full and thorough freedom to express her artistic ideas. Highly acclaimed and always in demand, she brings a tremendous amount of knowledge, skill and experience in keeping the Lydians looking good.
Creative Director, Wendell Manwarren
Words by Muhammad Muwakil
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THE ‘WOW’ FACTOR
DRESSING THE PART
North Eleven is a new collaborator with the Lydians - a light projection company with a healthy sense of adventure and experimentation. Constantly pushing the envelope of creativity, North Eleven provides inventive lighting solutions for promotional and corporate and artistic events and activities for the entertainment and tourism sectors. They with multiple technologies constantly reach for innovative lighting solutions to bring an added ‘wow’ factor to every event they serve. Working with the Lydians began with a desire to experiment with lighting projection combined with choir staging. This Christmas, we hope to amaze our audience with music combined with special lighting effects projected on to our choristers - a first for local concert presentations.
Costumes by Ian Smith and Claudette Edwards created the perfect complement to each section’s themes. Claudette Edwards has served as the Lydians costume mistress for over fifteen years and was formally appointed as the Lydians Wardrobe Officer earlier this year. The Lydians have valued and cherished her presence and volunteerism over the years. Ian Smith is an experienced and highly sought-after costume designer and costume producer who graciously took up the challenge of guiding the Lydians on this year’s artistic ideas for costuming and accessories, outfitting over one hundred and twenty singers, instrumentalists, steelpan players and dancers.
introducing North Eleven
Claudette Edwards & Ian Smith
A LYDIAN PAYING IT FORWARD Kino Alvarez, Sound Design
Many Lydians have memories of Kino Alvarez the first time he walked into a rehearsal at Bishop Anstey High School with a group of restless young men who became affectionately known as “The Lydians Wild Boys.” Embraced by the choir and by Pat Bishop, he settled into a love of the performing arts and sang, danced, played steelpan and performed for some of the most prestigious audiences. The choir’s frequent trips to Queen’s Hall eventually awakened another avenue for creative expression in him - a love of sound design and sound engineering. Today he is a Sound Designer/Audio Engineer, operates his own Sound Design company and works with the Lydians allyear round.
Wendell Manwarren addressing the Lydians at rehearsal, Bishop Anstey High School Hall, Port of Spain
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HARRIET TUBMAN: A GUIDING LIGHT TO FREEDOM
through the iconic example of the abolitionist and humanitarian Harriet Tubman, who led hundreds of the enslaved to freedom by the light of her lamp through the underground railroad. Tubman was a powerful example of holding out a light against injustice, cruelty and inhumanity.
“The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.”
She began life as a slave and died a free woman. In between, she risked her life countless times to bring other slaves to freedom. In artistic renderings of Tubman, she is typically depicted holding out a lantern to others, beckoning to those walking in darkness, to those in need of salvation from the darkness of their lives. Her example is a beacon through time of how the selfless action of being a light to others can change the world.
Matthew 4:16
Surviving the trials of hardship and darkness through music is one of the core ideas behind the theme of this year’s Christmas concert. One of the most powerful musical genres which has historically represented a triumph of survival, hope and light is the Negro Spiritual. The Lydians has a long and successful legacy of performing Spirituals, the choir’s choral, sound and tone of lush vocal harmonies and power, full-bodied sound lending itself perfectly to the ecstasy and anguish demanded by these songs.
The Negro Spiritual is a symbol of music as a light triumphing over the horrible pain of slavery. When fused with Christmas, we celebrate that light to freedom, along with the light of the world, that gives joy, hope and peace - the saviour born in Bethlehem.
The call to ‘Hold Out Your Light’ is one inspired by light prevailing over darkness expressed
Janine Charles-Farray 11
HOLD OUT YOUR LIGHT Selections from the following programme
ACT 1 Scene 1: The Church National Anthem of Trinidad and Tobago
Lydian Male Quartet
Arr. Cumberbatch
Adeste Fideles
The Lydians Soloist David Williams
Trad, arr. Mercurio
A Christmas Fanfare (Hodie)
The Lydians
Porterfield
I Am Seeking for a City
The Lydians Soloist, Nakita Gadsby
Trad, arr. Dett
Sanctus (from Missa Lydia)
The Lydians
Noel
Sing Gloria
The Lydians
Shaw
O Holy Night
The Lydians Soloist, Joanne Pyle
Adam, arr. Gilchrist
Ring The Bells!
The Lydians
Shaw
Ribbons
Lydian Steel
Marylin Williams, arr. Natahsa Joseph
Scene 2: The Home At Christmas Your Heart Goes Home
Soloist, Garnet Allen
Leon
Gesu Bambino
The Lydians Bishop Anstey Senior Choir
Yon
What Child is this? (W/ Coventry)
Soloist, Janine Charles-Farray
Dix, arr. Arrington
Mary Had a Baby
Lydian Men
Trad.
Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day/Noel!
Soloists, Alliyah Boland, Tsiane Valere and Alicia Barrie
Trad, arr. Hines
Red and Green Christmas
The Lydians Soloist, Janine Charles-Farray
Cattouse
I eh do nuttin’ yet!
Soloist, Kory Mendez
Noel
Sip and Chat
The Lydians Soloist, Jamel Williams
Harris arr. Jacob
Make a Friend for Christmas
The Lydians
Harris arr. Jacob
Alumbra/Anda Parrandero
The Lydians Soloist, Candice Caton/ Claire Williams
Trad. Parang
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HOLD OUT YOUR LIGHT Selections from the following programme
Intermission ACT 2 Scene 3: The Community Narration
Muhammad Muwakil
Muwakil
Keep Your Lamps
The Lydians
Trad. arr. Thomas
Holy Mount Zion
The Lydians
Trad. arr. Lewin
Hold Out your Light an’ Foller!
The Lydians
Trad. arr. Hines
The Night That Christ Was Born/ Magnificent and Holy In Your Name
Lydian Ensemble Soloists, Nakita Gadsby, Jamel Williams, Anton H. Williams and Janine Charles-Farray
Franklin arr. Brewster
Behold The Star
Soloist, Kory Mendez
Burleigh, Blackwell
I Know I’ve Been Changed
The Lydians Soloist, David Williams
Trad. arr. Dandridge
Way Over In Beulah Lan’
The Lydians
Trad. Arr Gibbs
Rock-a-My Soul
Lydian Steel Soloist, Glenis Yearwood
Trad. H. Roberts
Go Tell It On The Mountain, Jesus Oh
The Lydians Soloist, David Williams
Trad. Arr. Ames
Hallelujah Chorus (Messiah)
The Lydians
Handel arr. Bishop
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KEEP YOUR LAMPS TRIMMED AND BURNING Beacons of Light in a troubled society “The Church, The Home, The Community” I want to commend the Lydians on highlighting this theme of holding out your light, because it seems that these days we are stalked by darkness on many fronts such as the issues of stringent economic times, but also issues of domestic violence, murder, crimes of different sorts and a certain thrust toward materialism and selfishness. Each person has light within him or her and the theme sounds as if it is calling people to let that light be made manifest. That is crucially important for our existence now and going forward. The home, the school and the community have, since the beginning of time, created great individuals, because they drew the light out of many persons. Along with the church, they first gave individuals the fuel and the conditions to set it right, and then, by various experiences and situations, they call forth that light. That light shone, and that light showed a lot of other people the way forward. The school used to backup what happened at home, either by way of straightening it out and correcting it or by way of reinforcement. In doing so what has happened is a sort of rectangle - the home, the school, the church and the wider community. Those within the community often demanded what they thought was the training or the scope that you were given - you were to be polite, mannerly, clean and there was a certain way in which you ought to carry yourself. You would have heard things like “cleanliness is next to Godliness” and “manners maketh man” - that was the expectation of behaviour. Those things didn’t just fall from the heavens they were nurtured in the home, the school, the churches and the wider community. Today, there is something of a demand for us to return to those foundation traits and values because we seem to be beset by a certain materialist tendency and selfishness. Once that selfishness takes over, it only brings darkness. The call to ‘hold out your light’ is a very poignant one. It is needed, it is urgent and should bear some fruit because it is a timely reminder that in this season of Christmas that we are looking to - the Prince of Peace - it’s a time when God is reminding us of the hope we have in him as we follow those kingdom principles and values, we can make the world a brighter, better, more peaceful place. Excerpts from an interview with The Right Reverend Bishop Claude Berkeley, Bishop of the Anglican Church in the Diocese of Trinidad and Tobago.
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MUSICAL LAMP LIGHTERS Carl-Anthony Hines
Born and raised in Jamaica, Carl-Anthony Hines is a young composer, music tutor, tenor vocalist and music student currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music at the University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine Campus. Over the past eight years, Hines has composed over thirteen original commissioned pieces of music along with several scored arrangements. Hines has been an active member of the Lydians from 2014 and in 2016 took charge of the choir as Guest Conductor and Rehearsal Master on a fulltime, volunteer basis. This year he was appointed Assistant Musical Director of The Lydians! In his career to date, he has pursued several musical endeavours including being the Vice President of the University Chorale of the UWI, Mona Jamaica, a Composer in Residence at the Jamaica Youth Chorale and a member of the Diocesan Festival Choir, ‘Vocez’ Vocal Chamber Ensemble, The University Singers, the Brandenburg Singers, The Jamaica National Festival Choir and The UWI Arts Chorale.
Astra Noel
In 2013, a composer emerged from the Lydian fold in the person of Astra Noel, a musician and member of the Lydian Steel since 1999. That Christmas she debuted an ensemble piece called ‘Await That Star’ and the entertaining, jazz solo, ‘All I want for Christmas is a Panman’ to rave reviews. In 2016 she premiered Ave Maria (O Mary), a movement from her original work entitled, ‘Missa Lydia’. Noel is a music teacher at her former Primary school, Bishop Anstey Junior School and also attended the Bishop Anstey High School, Port of Spain. She attained academic qualifications in CXC Music, has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Musical Arts (Hons) from the University of the West Indies (UWI) and is now enrolled at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) where she is in the Artist’s Diploma programme and the accompanist for the UTT Academy of the Performing Arts (APA) Choir.
Mark Brewster
This is Jazz composer and musician Mark Brewster’s third time working with The Lydians. Previous work with the Lydians has been contributions in the choral Jazz arena with 2015’s up-tempo arrangement of ‘The Little Drummer Boy’ for The Rhythms of Christmas concert, to a smash up of ‘Do You Want to Build A Snowman?’ and ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas’. This year, he pushes the envelope with The Lydians with his ‘smash-up’ arrangement of ‘The Night that Christ was born’/Magnificent and Holy is your Name.
For tonight’s performance, Hines will present two original pieces, a Soprano trio, “Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day” and a choral arrangement of the title piece of the concert, “Hold out Your Light and Foller!”
John Jacob
John Jacob is a long-standing musical collaborator with the Lydians, having worked with the choir on folk and calypso arrangements for many years. He has taken the Lydians to many a championship trophy in the Folk and Calypso Chorale categories. In Christmas of 2000, he premiered a suite of original songs for the Lydians Gold Concert performed at the Woodbrook Youth Facility, from which the anthem ‘God Is Great and Good’ remains a signature performance piece in The Lydians repertoire. For ‘Hold Out Your Light’ Jacob will present musical arrangements of two Lord Relator Christmas Favourites, the humorous “Sip and Chat” and ‘Make A Friend for Christmas”. 15
Brewster is a music educator, performer, producer and arranger. He plays piano, steel pan, organ and flute and currently holds a Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Studies from Florida Memorial University and a Master of Arts Degree in Jazz Piano Performance from Leeds College of Music England. He has performed at several Jazz Festivals and worked with top international and local musicians some of which include steel pan virtuosos Dr. Ray Holman, Len “Boogie” Sharp and renowned singer/songwriter Kelvin Hutcheon.
THE ‘HEART LIGHTS’ OF THE LYDIANS Close creative members of the Lydians Family. Three generations of Soogrim-Ram In 1990, Ms. Pat Bishop, then leader of the Lydian Singers, invited the Malick Tassa Drummers through Mr. Krishna Soogrim-Ram to perform with the Lydians Singers during their rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus. From that time to today, this group has performed with the Lydians. Currently, the third generation of the Soogrim-Ram family is sharing the stage with the Lydians.
Today, the group comprises Xavier Phillip, Christopher Clifford and Anderson Dyer who play bass drums/rhythm drums, and Kwasi Hinds who plays the rhythm drum. Two ladies, Carla Sayers and Jamila have been members and have played with them over the past years.
They have participated in all the masses that the Lydians have performed over the years including the Missa Criola and the Missa Cubana. They In the beginning, those performing were Krishna have played in every Lydians Christmas concert. (now deceased) on the cutter, Sanjeet, his son on They recall that Ms. Bishop took them with her the jhanj and cymbals, Ranjeet, his eldest son on everywhere the choir performed - from the Prime the fuller and Vijay Rambair his nephew on the bass Minister’s residence to Tamarind Square. They drum. Over the years, Krishna’s grandsons have remember when the rhythm of the drums was joined the group and today Sanjeet has assumed the added to the performance of the National Anthem leadership role on the cutter, Ranjeet plays the bass at the inauguration of then Anglican Bishop Rawle drum, Avinash Seeram, their cousin and Krishna’s Douglin. nephew plays the fuller and Krishna’s three grandchildren - Prakash Soogrim-Ram (17 years Although Xavier has been a member of the Trinidad old), Mitra Soogrim-Ram (16 years old) and Shivan and Tobago Regiment Army Drum Corps since 1994 Buchoon (10 years old), alternate on the fuller and and holds the rank of Sargeant, which has added jhanj. to his time commitments and responsibilities, and he also heads the West African Dancers Company The legacy of the African drum continues (WASAFOLI), he will be leading his drummers in In 1988, Ms. Pat Bishop needed African drummers this year’s Christmas concert as usual. The Lydians to accompany the Lydian Singers for the Missa await the next generation of African drummers as Luba performance. She asked Orlando McIntosh Xavier’s two sons, Savion (15 years old) and Xavier (deceased) who was a member of the Lydian Singers Jnr. (10 years old) are accomplished drummers and the Mawasi Experience led by Mr. Peter Telfer, following in their father’s footsteps and hopefully in to source some drummers. Orlando approached Mr. the Lydian tradition. Wayne Guerra who led the Culture Shop Drummers and whose nephew was Mr. Xavier Phillip, also a The legacy of the drum continues with member of the group, to assist. the Lydians. From that time on, the Culture Shop Drummers who were also affiliated with the Malick Folk Performers became part of the Lydian family. In the beginning, the group comprised Xavier Phillip, leader, playing the lead djembe, Orlando playing the ‘talking drum’ - a hand-held instrument, Denzil, playing the ‘shekere’ and Christopher, playing the bass drum.
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THE LIGHT IN THE BASEMENT - THE LYDIAN STEEL The Lydian Steel practices in a room under the stage of the auditorium of Bishop Anstey High School. When I attended the school, it was the Art Room, off-limits to everyone except the Art teaching staff and the older girls working on their portfolio pieces for CXC and A-Levels. The few trips that one would take down there (usually, to give some message to the teacher) felt like entering into a very different dimension—a kind of sacred space. Bowls of your Granny’s best ceramic fruit, vases and other still-life worthy paraphernalia were arranged on wooden tables like shrines to concentration and inspiration. Blue-bladed wall fans whirred furiously to alleviate the stifling heat (update: these have long since stopped working and, while we borrow standing fans from classrooms, rehearsals still feel like a spa experience). A musty, dusty odour hung perpetually at nose level. And, possibly most troublesome for art, there was never ever really quite enough light. As BAHS is a school of many activities, when the space was no longer the Art Room, it took on many personalities, quickly becoming the unofficial, official dressing room/ mas camp/ practice room/ props storage/ fete storage/ hide from class/ everything room. At that time, Lydian Steel pans were mainly housed between the stage itself and the school music room. Practising involved a lot of moving of very heavy instruments and equipment to and from spaces around the compound. When we were finally granted permission to use the under-stage space, initially we only had about half the room at our disposal—the rest being shared
with all the various items relevant to activities mentioned above. Eventually though, as the school continued to build and expand new facilities, the room was needed less and less by the Bishops community. Now Lydians things occupy most of it, and the steel pans are in pride of place in the centre of the room. Not all are in use of course. Some are stacked neatly on the sides and others repose in their cases. The current incarnation of the Lydian Steel does not require all of our resources—though there are, thankfully this year, more players than in previous years. I salute the efforts of our longstanding members Tonya, Joseph, Fayola, Tommy, Sekou, Akil, Natasha and Dennis and welcome new members Syddel and Kwesi. Throughout the years, the basement under the stage has always operated as a cocoon into which raw material would enter and out of which newly-forged art would exit. The effect has been no different on the Steel. We love our space. Every time I go down the creaky wooden steps I know I’m walking into somewhere I belong. And while we work towards fixing it up properly with sound-proofing (so we don’t drive the choir crazy when we both rehearse at the same time), filing system/music score organisation, general cleaning and, of course, air-conditioning, we nevertheless soldier on in our basement. We work towards refining our sound and shining our light brighter than our circumstances and surroundings. Astra Noel
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Hold Out Your Light
Artwork by Morgan Lewis
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Morgan Lewis, Artist
Morgan Lewis, born in 1994, is a lifelong Lydian and was heavily influenced through her childhood and teenage years by her mentor, Pat Bishop. Though she has received formal academic instruction in the visual arts, Lewis considers her style and artistic outlook to have been shaped largely by on-line collaboration with fellow artists, both amateur and professional, in art-based and global social media websites.
of sequential art, concept and game design, or illustration. Her other interests include history, cultural lore, literature, costume and fashion design, and baking, which she pursues when not drawing.
Artist’s Statement
Regardless of one’s faith, Christmas for many is about family and community. It is a season of light, hope and warmth that beckons us to bask in the glow of one another’s company, to celebrate as individuals, as groups, and as a community. Each Working as a digital artist, Lewis engages in storytelling of the visual elements of the piece is easily recognizable, through art. Her on-line work consists of freelance common and familiar: the lantern, the post, the poinsettia. illustration, character and game design, and sequential Their familiarity can feel mundane--but that mundanity is to works. Her work in Trinidad and Tobago is primarily that be celebrated, to be elevated and made magical. of a graphic artist, designing everything from calling cards and company logos, to advertisements. Her work The lantern, standing solitary, is an open invitation; it for the Lydians is deeply personal, and she also created says: “I may not know you, but if you require light, shelter, last year’s “Christmas Calabash”. comfort, community, you will find them here.” The poinsettia, Light, water and flowers are recurring themes in Lewis’s artwork, which employs dynamic shapes, strong sense of movement, and vibrant colours. Her creative influences include Tomm Moore, Claire Hummel, Jen Zee, Michelle Czajkowski, and Amei Zhao, all practitioners
a Christmas motif so common as to be cliché, becomes the light by which one may find one’s way to warmth. Its light, shining through the darkness, represents goodness, freedom, direction and truth. This is what the Lydians strive to be. Anyone can be a part of our family; you just need to be here.
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CAST & CREW Lydian Singers Sopranos BARRIE, Alicia BAYLEY, Erica BOLAND, Alliyah COOPER-LEACH, Marielle DAVIDSON, Valerie DAVIS, Marlene DE FREITAS, Nicole ELCOCK-STRAKER, Bridgit FISHER, Alicia FISHER, Analeze GADSBY, Nakita HARPER, Wilza HODGE-CHRISTIAN, Lyris JAGGERNAUTH, Andrea JOEFIELD, Jeneal KING-LAWRENCE, Fayola MARCANO, Josanne PIERRE, Phaedra PIERRE, Rita POTTS, Glenis PYLE, Joanne ROPER, Laura ROPER, Leanna TOUSSAINT, R. Gabrielle VALERE, Tsaine WEBBER, Yvonne WHITEMAN, Lesleann WHITTLE, Patricia YEARWOOD, Glenis Altos AARONS, Maureen ALKINS, Patricia CHAN A SHING, Christine CHARLES-FARRAY, Janine CHEVROTIERE, Gillian DANIEL-LINTON, Paula DAVID LEWIS, Christine De SILVA, Germaine DORSET, Lenore S.
EDWARDS, Claudette EDWARDS, Nneka GEORGE, Jacqueline GILBERT, Marlene GLASGOW, Donna GREGORY, Sandra HODGE, Selma JOEFIELD, Kafi JOSEPH, Helena E LUCAS-MITCHELL, Renée Mc CONNEY, Elsa MOHON, Rhona NEAVES, Annette PHILLIPS CHANCE, Judy-May PIANGO, Teodolina RENAUD, Diane RICHARDS, Marrissa SALVARY-BRIGGS, Odette TARDIEU, Judy VALERE, Regina-Marie WILLIAMS, Claire Tenors ALLEN, Garnet BEARD, Alexander J. BETHELMY, Jean-Paul CAMPBELL, Alvin CUMBERBATCH, Edward HINES, Carl-Anthony MENDEZ, Kory MENDOZA, Charles ‘Berlin’ REID, Olusanmi ‘Terry’ SAWH, Shurland WILLIAMS, David WILLIAMS, Jamel Basses COLLYMORE-JONES, Bruce GIBBS, Matthew GUERRA, Fidel RAGOONANAN, Selwyn SEALEY, Christopher J. 21
SHEPPARD, Kerry WHISKEY, Tarik WILLIAMS, Anton WHITEHALL, Anthony
CAST & CREW MUSICIANS Lydian Steel CYRUS, Syddel Tenor GRANDERSON, Fayola Tenor/Double Tenor KNIGHTS, Joseph Tenor/Double Tenor LOOBY, Akil Tenor Bass MOORE, Kwesi Six Bass NOEL, Astra Guitar REDHEAD, Marlon Tenor Bass ROBERTS, Dennis Percussion & Drum Kit Accompanists CUMBERBATCH, Myrtle JACOB, John NOEL, Astra SADAPHAL, Sean Special Guest Keyboardist BREWSTER, Mark Other Musicians BELL, Jimmy Guitar CLARK, Gary Tenor Pan, Cuatro, Mandolin BERTRAND, Patrick Box Bass de FREITAS CHARLES, Marva Percussion TOUSSAINT, R. Gabrielle Percussion
Clarinet BRAITHWAITE, Shurvone Saxophone DANIEL, Tariq Percussion CLARKE Louise African Drums CLIFFORD, Christopher DYER, Anderson HINDS, Kwasi Tassa SEERAM, Jeewan SOOGRIM-RAM, Mitra SOOGRIM-RAM, Prakash SOOGRIM-RAM, Ranjeet SOOGRIM-RAM, Sanjeet Dancers LEWIS, Anisa MORTLEY, Michael SEEPAUL, Anya WOODING, Sidelle Guest Choir Bishop Anstey High School Senior Choir
PRODUCTION CREDITS Musical Director GRANDERSON, Lorraine Assistant Musical Director HINES, Carl-Anthony Creative Concept CHARLES-FARRAY, Janine HINES, Carl-Anthony Creative Director MANWARREN, Wendell Producer CHARLES-FARRAY, Janine Production Assistants ALLEN, Garnet BEARD, Alexander J. de FREITAS CHARLES, Marva HINES, Carl-Anthony ROBERTS, Dennis Set & Costume Design COOPER, Dave HYBRID THEORY PRODUCTIONS Costume & Wardrobe EDWARDS, Claudette SMITH, Ian Wardrobe Team ANTHONY, Tricica GOODING, Avril LEWIS, Junelle Audio Engineer ALVAREZ, Kino
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CAST & CREW Assistant Audio Engineer CHANGOOR, Alan Recording Engineer HARRY, Alroy Lighting Design WELLS, Celia Lighting Projection North Eleven Projection Choreography & Movement (Choir) BYNOE, Adele SEEPAUL, Allison Words by MUWAKIL, Muhammad Stage Management BERTRAND, Donna-Marie STEWART, Asha Assistant Stage Management BERTRAND, Patrick PARRIS, Sterling Communications & Publicity CHARLES-FARRAY, Janine DANIEL-LINTON, Paula DAVID-LEWIS, Christine LUCAS-MITCHELL, Renée MENDEZ, Kory Original Art “The Poinsettia Lantern” LEWIS, Morgan Artwork & Graphic Design CHANDLER, Ayrïd
Special Guest Management CHARLES-FARRAY, Janine HODGE-CHRISTIAN, Lyris MENDEZ, Kory SEALES-RODNEY, Marcia Editorial Team CHARLES-FARRAY, Janine DAVIS, Marlene HINES, Carl-Anthony NOEL, Astra Tickets & Box Office de FREITAS CHARLES, Marva FISHER, Alicia GADSBY, Nakita HODGE, Selma Mc CONNEY, Elsa WILLIAMS, David Got Ya Back Clothing Home Land Furnishing La Tropicale Flower Shop Queen’s Hall Signature 2000 Front of House ALLSOP, Malik BREWSTER, Alison CUMBERBATCH, Elysia CUMBERBATCH, Richelle de FREITAS CHARLES, Marva DORSET, Lenore, S. DUMAS, Joy JONES MORALES, Jennifer KAREEM, Patrice MOORE, Marguerite NICHOLLS-SAMPSON, Joyce NIMBLETT, Lynn ROACH, Carla WHITTLE, Titian-Rose
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Executive Management Team ALLEN, Garnet BEARD, Alexander J. CHARLES-FARRAY, Janine DAVID-LEWIS, Christine de FREITAS CHARLES, Marva EDWARDS, Claudette GRANDERSON, Lorraine HINES, Carl-Anthony PEROUZE, Tonya NOEL, Astra ROBERTS, Dennis Board of Directors CALLENDER, Dawn DORSET, Lenore S. FROST, Sterling JONES, Brian WHITEMAN, Leslie-Ann Supernumerary Directors COOPER-LEACH, Marielle POTTS, Glenis
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Andes Industries Andrew Rodriguez Anjanie Lochan Anthony Pierre B.C. Catering Limited Bernard Beckles Blue Waters Products Limited Brent Carter CCN TV6 Christine David-Lewis Cindy-Ann Gatt CNMG / CTV Dexter Charles Fabric Land Stores First Citizens Limited FLOW Trinidad Limited Gerard Lucas Gillian Bishop Gillian Chevrotiere Gillian Friday Got Ya Back Clothing Gregory Aboud Guardian Media Limited Home Land Furnishing Hott 93 Jimmy Aboud Keron Yan Kiran Maharaj Kory Mendez La Tropicale Flower Shop Larry Olton
Marielle Cooper-Leach Mark Gomes Marlon Danglade Michael P. Cooper Mr. and Mrs. V. Baptiste Muhammad Muwakil Natasha Davis Newsday Newspaper Nicole De Freitas Nicole Loney Mills Nyerere Haynes Panland Trinidad and Tobago Limited Patrick Hernandez Peter Mansoor Peter Ray Blood Pradeep Subrian Prestige Holdings Limited Queen’s Hall Renee Lucas-Mitchell Rhonda Ottley Rodney Sayney Roger Hernandez Sateesh Maharaj Signature 2000 Sonja Romany Sunil Whittle The Principal and Staff of Bishop Anstey High School Trinidad and Tobago Unit Trust Corporation Trinidad Express Newspapers Unicomer (Trinidad) Limited Wayne Woods
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Season’s Greetings! If you are not entirely sure what we do, you will understand after the performance.
Enjoy the show! northelevenlife.com
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