NAPARIMA Girls School edged St Joseph's Convent (SJC) San Fernando to win the under-19 folk choir class on Monday as the Trinidad and Tobago Music Festival moved to South Trinidad at the Naparima Bowl, San Fernando.
However, minutes later SJC roped in reinforcements from their brother school, Presentation College, to earn record high marks to dominate the under-19 mixed voice choir as the only entrant to the class which another school had also been listed but did not turn up.
The day's young performers – in vocal solos, choirs and steel pan solos – were watched by festival patron President Christine Kangaloo and her husband Kerwin Garcia. Festival committee member Jessel Murray told guests the event was a showcase of the country's immense creativity and skill. While its origins were in classical music, it must constantly evolve to include TT's diverse musical landscape such as folk, calypso, rapso and pan, he advised.
"Music can uplift and inspire. People should not be limited by costs. We are granting free admission."
Adjudicator Nubia Williams awarded Naparima 85 marks out of 100 and St Joseph's 83 marks for their under-19 folk choirs.
Naparima offered Siyahamba and Queen Anne, while SJC sang Come Leh We Go and Boysie.
Naparima's performers gave very vivid facial expressions, including each girl framing her face with her two hands as they danced off stage, chiding the village washerwoman for her gossip, "Queen Anne, you like too much confusion!".
[caption id="attachment_1067775" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The St Gabriel's Girls RC School performs Water Come Out Mi Eye in the under-13 primary school folk songs choirs category at the TT Music Festival at Naparima Bowl, San Fernando, on Monday. - Photo by Lincoln Holder[/caption]
The convent girls sang with very clear diction, with lively movements of peering, waving and stepping, in their first song.
In their second song, the convent choir showed an amazing sectioning to offer the sweetest ever blending of voices in the phrase, "till morning come."
Williams said SJC had a distinct theme expressed throughout plus a well-sung melody line, but must be careful with their high notes.
"All lyrics were heard clearly throughout."
However she said they must watch their balance, as required among their voices and among given parts, regarding harmony and orchestration.
"So sometimes your balances was not always fitting."
Williams said Naparima had a good blend of voices and a well-articulated harmony. "Orally pleasing throughout. Good balance. Voices were used effectively, modulating tone and pitch.
"Change in tempo and approach aided in the mood, style and expression."
Minutes later, SJC returned to the stage, with male colleagues, to win the mixed choir, with an astounding performance of Turn Around by Alan Greene, Harry Belafonte and others. Williams awarded them 90 marks.
She said, "The combination of voices fitted well with the tempi (paces of the music, plural of tempo).
"Good pitching. The lyrics were clearly sung. Good adhere
