HOLY Faith Convent Penal (HLCP) calypso choir breathed new life into the late Denyse Plummer's Nah Leavin' in a very pacey performance to make their mark at the south-central leg of the TT Music Festival at Naparima Bowl, San Fernando, on Friday. Plummer won the 2001 calypso monarch with this song, and Heroes.
The Holy Faith pupils placed third (81 marks), behind Naparima Girls High School (first, 89 marks) and St Joseph's Convent, San Fernando (second, 87 marks).
All presentations had a folk flavour. While Holy Faith kept about the same paciness as Plummer's original, pupils sang with a slight staccato to add a rapso mood to the piece.
Singing at different pitches, the girls created wonderful blends, at times framed by backing vocals undulating in a deeper register (range of pitches).
Midway through, they suddenly took the song to a slow walking pace, to great effect.
Their words were merely those of everyday speech, yet the suddenly slowed pace strangely gave it an almost gospel-music-like mood.
"I wake up one morning and before I stretch, Is fry bake, doubles, meh nostril done ketch."
The words then became introspective to match the mood of the melody. "And there for my view, an ocean so blue. I'm going no where, No where."
The verve of the young, fresh voices really gave a new impetus to the very well-known song.
Holy Faith music teacher Kwasida Smith told Newsday that it had been easy to select the song for the class because pupils were already familiar with it.
"They were like, 'Okay, Miss. We like this one.'
"We tried something a little different from the other choirs. Normally they would have accompaniment, but we just chose guitar and drum, so that the voices could be heard more.
"It worked for us, at least for the most part. The students enjoyed it, which is what I am glad about."
Smith said pupils had included a choreography. "Not everyone has all the rhythm but they came together and they were helping each other as well during rehearsals."
Everyone was glad with the experience, which had been those pupils first time at music festival.
"So to be competing against Naps and Prescon which are very seasoned choirs, you know.
"They were a bit intimidated but they still enjoyed the competition and they really are encouraged to come again. We are looking forward for another opportunity to perform."
Newsday asked about the choirs sectioning. "We had altos and sopranos and some of the girls even sang tenor, those with some deeper voices. It was just a few but they were strong."
Smith said she had arranged the piece.
Newsday noted the freshness of her pupils' young voices, the gusto of the novice.
Smith said, "They are very excited. The younger ones. They are eager.
"For most of the choir it is a lot of form ones and a lot of form twos because they are excited to be involved and to take part."
She said younger pupils were so keen they would attend music practice every day, even as older pupils might need reminding to attend.
"We also had support from other teachers.
