12/03/2016
In a class of its own, setting standards and earning distinction from all other offerings, the 1971 debut and finest contemporary folk recordings from Dominica's premiere pioneers of the genre.
The Siffleur Montagne Chorale of Dominica takes its name from the mountain whistler bird, indigenous to the interior virgin forests of the island. Starting out as a project between the S M Chorale, assisted by the government's planning and development corporation, with the aim of recording and committing a few songs to vinyl for posterity, has ultimately transcended decades of copying, analysis and airplay to become a historic benchmark-classic of island folk heritage. After almost forty-five years of local and regional radio airplay, not to mention the pirate copying, unauthorised rerecordings and uninformed illegitimate sublicensed reissues, this record has grown in native stature to become the nation's foremost aural folk treasure, led and directed by the celebrated ecclesiastic singer-composer Jean Lawrence-Mathurin.
Through her pioneering leadership and considerable efforts of a co-operative of students at the St.Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), these songs were honed and rehearsed at St.Gerrards Hall, (the old Tropicrafts building in Roseau). On a friday, May 14th 1971, all 22 members flew to Trinidad to record in this debut at the popular Caribbean Sound Studios of the day in Port of Spain, where it was privately pressed into vinyl discs, and issued July of that year on the Village record label (JL-101). With the backing of a full twenty strong plus en suite chorale, these songs offer the listener an exotic melodious, vivid but charming musical escape, crafted in such manner unheard of from other intimate but comparative folk groups of the day.
As a wee native lad, growing up alongside a vibrant island culture, these were the most memorable melodies that never left the contours of a mature mind after decades of distractions, not ever having seen
the original disc sleeve cover, to acquiring this folk masterpiece some thirty-four years later. Listen to the nostalgic "Kashakoo" or the enchanting "O Dominica", the beautiful 'mazurka' love song "Dis Moin Ca", the poetic naivety in a flattering courtship "A Dominican Belle", the melodious "Pas Quite Yo Pren Dominique", or the sweet flawless vocal of the soloist in the patriotic "Toute Ca En Dans Y". The album also includes the fabulous 'national' ballade "Land Of Such Beauty" - a haunted yearning melody, penned by ex-peace corp volunteer Dr. Robert McGuire of The Trinity University of Washington.
In essence, the lyrics and metaphors of these songs mirror innocence and gentility. They evoke a sense of community, a serenity of olde, an uncorrupted purity of elegant courtship, once prevalent throughout caribbean urban-class society of period 1940s to 1960s. As late as 1973, I was fortunate enough to experience stark observations of this gentility, still existent then, in contrast to today’s brazen outspoken confidence of youth. Despite sometimes the slight discernable rigidness in the 'Roseau' chorale's colloquial deliveries, the quality and technical inefficiencies in the original recordings, this beautifully remastered edition more than makes up for such disadvantages. These songs have stood the test of time to take their rightful place as Dominica's finest folklore classics that every patriotic native should acquire and guard with pride.
At last, restored to the best technical audio standards, transcribed, annotated and remastered by Richie Rockland, to its original product specification for digital distribution. Front and Rear cover photographs by Peter Green (deceased 2009), front lettering and rear artwork by Dr. Lennox Honeychurch, original sleeve notes by Jeff Charles, transcribed LYRICS (included in pdf file). A National Folk Treasure! Available for Download Soon!!!
Richie Rockland
London. November 20, 2015.
