THE CRUCIFIXION was not an uptempo, lifting up holy hands or 'breaking a sweat for Jesus' event. Instead, it was a time for the rendition of Stainer's The Crucifixion and Beethoven's The Mount of Olives.
For the average Jamaican, sitting through a rendition of Beethoven's would not be a thought they would gladly entertain. In fact, for both Christian and secular persons, such an event may seem boring.
However, for the persons who sat through the concert held at the Spanish Town Cathedral on Good Friday night the event was far from boring. There was good singing from tenor Orville Manning, soprano Lucette Cargill and bass singer Maurice Wilson.
Backed by good playing from organist Trevor Beckford, the three singers managed to take the audience through The Mount of Olives.
The recital opened with an organ introduction lasting for three minutes. The organs soon provided the background for Orville Manning as he delivered O Father, O My Father. Moving on to All My Soul Within Me Shudders was no problem and persons not used to a recital would not have recognised one had begun until the lines of the song were heard.
CHOIR
After that performance, Lucette Cargill performed three other pieces. She was backed by the choir on one occasion. The introduction of the choir brought renewed life to the presentation and had one young man in the audience using his fingers to play an imaginary organ and mouthing along.
Another piece by Manning would precede a piece with Lucette Cargill and Orville Manning. This piece again generated some interest in the small crowd and it was followed by the uptempo chorus We Shall Surely Find Him performed by the choir. The choir would also assist Manning on Behold Him.
Just when the audience thought that the night would pass with only Cargill and Manning doing the honours, the heavy bass voice of Maurice Wilson joined in the proceedings, delivering Not Unchastised. Wilson would later team up with Cargill and Manning for Mine Inmost Goodness Heart Is Burning.
The combination was just what the doctor ordered and it even seemed to catch the attention of a child who had otherwise been distracted. She listened with some degree of curiousity and occasionally turned to her mother as if asking for an explanation as to what was going on.Two chorus pieces by the choir entitled Haste! And Seize Upon The Traitor and Hallelujah ended the performance segments.
A vote of thanks and prayer ended the night's proceedings.
