By Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter
Jamaica College Chapel Choir's third and final performance of their annual concert Mozart's 'Te Deum Anthems and Carols' at the Saxthorpe Methodist Church, Constant Spring Road, last Sunday. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
THE INAUGURAL Sunday in the year 2003 played host to the Jamaica College Chapel Choir's third and final performance of their annual concert Mozart's 'Te Deum - Anthems and Carols' at the Saxthorpe Methodist Church on Constant Spring Road, St Andrew.
The performance brought the curtains down on the 21st consecutive staging of the event. According to Randall Campbell, the conductor of the choir since the first staging of the event in 1981, the performance in question outshone its two predecessors, which were held in St. James and Portland last year.
The event got underway at 7:15 p.m. with the 18 young men decked out in traditional navy blue pants, white shirts and white-striped navy blue ties. They performed 15 songs, five in the first segment and the remainder in the second segment.
The youngsters were assisted by Dwight McBean on organ, pianist Yanique Leiba and of course, conductor Randall Campbell. While the young men queued up it was the squeaky sounds of the ceiling and the wall fans that were predominant. However, these were subsequently drowned out with the introduction of the organ.
The choir members had to sing from their music sheets and pay attention to the lead of the choir master at the same time. Their concentration level was further tested when they had to skip a page during the course of a song. The audience was well behaved, only clapping after a song was completed.
Of the 15 songs performed, four were sung in Latin; Insanae et Vanae Curae, Te Deum, Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant and Stille Nacht.
The soothing harmony in the classical brand of singing the choir displayed enthused most of those in attendance. On the other hand, it seemingly aided and abetted others in counting sheep. While many stared intently at the choir, not wanting to miss a note, several others grabbed a nap so that they could wake up in time for the finale, or so it seemed.
A couple others were spotted battling sleep and slumber as they yawned constantly. Another man had his head down for most of the performance, either in reverence or he saw the need to not look up at the choir.
Upon completing the first segment the choir retired for a few minutes and returned to the stage at 8 p.m. During the rendition of the opening song, Once In Royal David City, a cellular phone went off in the cathedral, which earned some glaring stares at the owner.
At ten minutes past the hour, the choir stepped up the tempo for the first time on the night with a rendition of Jesus Child, however it was met with the same ritualistic applause.
However, the audience was soon to break out of their shell. Their reception of the choir's version of Oh Holy Night was met with a much warmer and arousing round of applause. During the song, the soloist hit a note that nearly choked him but he redeemed himself after creaming a much higher note.
A couple of the songs that stood out on the night came in at numbers seven, eight and nine in the second segment in the form of Carol of the Bells, The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy and Jingle Bells.
The 'curtain-dropping' song of the performance was Oh Come All Ye Faithful. Upon completion the choir director and his troops took a bow to the standing ovation offered up by the obviously pleased audience.
The vote of thanks was given by the pastor of the host church, Reverend Gilbert Bowen, who thanked the choir for what he labelled an excellent performance. In addition, he lauded the conductor and encouraged the audience to give themselves a round of applause for being good and receptive.
The event was brought to a close with a prayer as Reverend Bowen gave thanks to the Lord.
