Freedom ‘reigns’ at Meadowvale’s musical fiesta
Published:Monday | December 23, 2019 | 12:46 AMYasmine Peru/Senior Gleaner Writer
‘Freedom’s Songs’ was the chosen theme for Meadowvale Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church’s inspiring musical extravaganza, staged at the Chancery Street place of worship last Saturday evening.
From start to finish, the two-and-a-half-hour-long programme hit a consistently high note, with the crescendo possibly being the closing, standing-ovation-quality performance from saxophonist Malik Hamilton. Delivering an absolutely breathtaking performance, Hamilton soulfully blew the sounds of freedom from his sax, using a technique that saw him going on almost forever without appearing to take a breath.
The interlocking themes of slavery and freedom, which strike at the very heart of Christianity, were explored both on a literal and a spiritual level. Brought to life through dramatic readings, dub poetry, biblical skits portraying the battle with “the slave master called sin”, and visuals of slaves ploughing the field, the production was expertly woven together through music.
Negro spirituals and a sprinkling of contemporary songs made a huge impact; however, the essence of the music department’s production could easily have been summed up in the spine-tingling rendition of Let Freedom Reign. The item was performed by an all-male quintet named TRUTH and Melloy Shakes, a young singer from the Haddo SDA Church in Westmoreland, and their talent, passion, and fervour shone bright. Shakes had previously shown her chops when she performed Heart Like Yours and Where The Nails, two songs that showcased her musical depth, range, and tone.
SOUND DELIVERIES
It wasn’t a December special that music director Cadien Stuart and her team had served up, it was actually an edited version of the church’s annual Music Day celebration. The church choir, large groups, small groups, soloists, an instrumentalist, and the congregation all sang parts of various freedom songs, whether it was a chant of captivity, questioning how to sing the Lord’s song in a strange land, or the lifting of victorious voices swelling in praise.
Franklyn Dixon, a churchman who has been singing for over 40 years but who, astoundingly, is yet to release his debut album, did justice to old favourite The Holy City. Accompanied on organ by Stuart, Dixon seemingly effortlessly glided through the Victorian ballad.
Another soloist, Christeena McKay, powered through I’m Free, while the group Euphony, a product of Meadowvale, and all of whose members could easily have made lucrative careers as professional singers, once again showed its class. Amitai, a group comprising mainly teens, offered a refreshingly well-constructed medley incorporating Soon-A Will Be Done, My God is an Awesome God, Excess Love O, and I Surrender All.
Compère for the evening was the witty, irrepressible minister of religion Derek Bignall, who turned the congregation into his own choir and who exercised his freedom of expression by chiding the church in general for not being forgiving enough.