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By Keith Archibald Forbes (see About Us) exclusively for Bermuda Online
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Partly in honor of The Bermuda
Islands Pipe Band and also because of the many Scots and Irish who are resident
in Bermuda and Bermudians with Scots and Irish forebears, there are many
recordings available in Bermuda of Scots and Irish bagpipe bands and bagpipers,
both civilian and military. In the 18th and 19th centuries, an Irish unit of the
British Army was here. Scottish regiments were several times in the British Army
garrison here until 1953. A Canadian Scottish regiment was based in Bermuda for
a while during World War 2. Their bagpipes and drums accompanied the soldiers on Church Parades from
Prospect Garrison in Devonshire to the city of Hamilton, waterfront on Pitts Bay Road and
back. The idea became a Bermuda civilian tradition.
Once there were two bagpipe bands here - the Bermuda Police Pipe Band and the Bermuda Cadets Pipe Band, so-called because it originated in "A" Company of the Bermuda Cadet Corps when Captain Henry Hallett was the Company Commander. (Paddy Coyle of the Gordon Highlanders, whose idea it was to start the Bermuda Cadets Pipe Band, was in the detachment of the Highland Brigade stationed in Bermuda at the time. In his honor, the band wore the Gordon tartan. Bagpipe celebrities or those who contributed mightily since then include Denis Stuart; Captain Arthur G. Card, Commandant of the Bermuda Cadet Corps; Lillian Hallett; Mary Card Gibbons and Joan Tite
They were established in 1955. Both were disbanded in 1992 when the Bermuda Islands Pipe Band was established. It is under the direction of Pipe Major A. David Frith and Drum Major Jeremy Durrell. The Bermuda Islands Pipe Band is a spectacular sight on ceremonial occasions, often included in Beating Retreat, musical displays and other events. Individual bagpipers go to hotels and weddings. The 17-member contingent still wear the Gordon Highlanders tartan kilt with a white jacket. Experiences include playing at the 2003 Nova Scotia International Tattoo, and one in Scotland in 2005, with pipes and drums from all over the world, in the 50th year of the history of this Bermuda unit.
See under "Bermuda Islands Pipe Band" in Bermuda Books.
Led by talented musicians, all volunteers, they include the:
First Salvation Army Young People's Band, mid 1930s
Non-profit. Dedicated to raising the standard of excellence in dance through world-class training. Bermuda's oldest dance organization. It was formed in 1962 by Madame Patricia Gray, MBE with the support of Madame Ana Roje, and since that time hundreds, if not thousands, of students have reaped the benefit of their vision, and the Association's unwavering dedication to dance. Amalgamated in 2005 with the National Dance Foundation of Bermuda (NDFB).
Brings
the choral arts to life in our community. Through performances of great
composers such as Bach, Handel, Mozart, Brahms and many more the ensemble
strives for a high standard of communicating the masterworks of choral
orchestral repertory. It meets Tuesdays, 7 p.m. at the Bermuda School of Music
in the F.S. Furbert Building at the old Berkeley Institute, Berkeley Road,
Pembroke. New members are welcome, contact Artistic Director Ryan Ellis at
296-5100 Ext. 230.
The trade group in Bermuda to which all those shown above belong.
Local legends then and now in
music include Larritta Adderley; Jon Armstrong; Toni Bari; Clarence (Tootsie) Bean; Gary Bean;
Graham
Bean and the Latinaires; Moira Bean; Harry Bean; JudyAnn Bean; Sydney Bean; Sydney Bean (died March 2000);
Joe Conchshell Benjamin (who left Bermuda to live in the
United Kingdom); Rob Berry; Gita Blakeney; Carl Borde (who spent
many years in Bermuda with the Esso Steel Band and died in Massachusetts in
2002); Kieran Bradshaw; Tony Brannon; Duane Bulford; Tina Burgess; Dr. Gary Burgess;
Ghandi Burgess; Brian Butterfield; Sandy Butterfield; Violetta Carmichael; Bishop
Caines; Bill Caisey; multi-percussionist Keith Caisey and his Brazilian wife
Clara; Bishop Caines; Earlston (Duke) Callabras; the late Violetta Carmichael;
Victor Chambray; Mia Page Chambray; the late Michael Clarke; Country Steppers; Rudolph Commissiong, Sr;
Glen Cuoco; Earl Darrell; Marcus Dagan; Wayne Davis; Andrew Dobson; Steve Dupres; Suzanne Dunkerley; the late Winston DeGraff
(he died in 2003 at the age of only 41); soprano Vivian Deyone Douglas; Hiram
Edwards; Dennis Eldridge; late Mrs. Maude Fox (died 1983 at the age of 89, the
only female musician in a 13-piece band); Robert 'Duke' Joell; Gaynor
Gallant; Al Harris; Agatha Catherine Henderson (taught classical piano for 60 years and
whose students include many others named here); Rhona James; Robert Edwards;
Robert (Sai) Emery; Kenneth Sonny Flood; Danny Fox; Dennis Fox; Jay Fox; the late
Wilbur Furbert; Al and Celeste Harris; Kenneth 'Joe' Hayward; pianist the late
Lance Hayward and his quartet; Robert Hayward; Wendell (Shine)
Hayward; the late Kenny Iris; Kingsley Swan Band; Robert (Duke) Joell; Robert
Lambe; Randy Lambert; Ronald and Dennis Laws; the late Alan
Lottimore (died in June 2002); Bandmaster Major Leslie Lowe; Michael King;
Cromwell Manders; Aidan McNally;
Roddy Marshall; Melvin Martin; Kevin Maybury; Paul Matthews; Stephanie Matthews; Reuben McCoy;
Michael McDonough; Glenn
Mello; Patrick McDonald (Mac) Mills; Speedy
Ming; Gary "Lazy
Boy" Morris; Dennis Moniz; Andy Newmark; Heather Nova;
Jimmy O'Connor; Gene Perry; Erskine Phillips;
Alan Pitman; Ryan Prevost; Peter Profit; Tom Ray (jazz pianist); Howard Rego;
Dr. Karol Sue Reddington; Joseph
Richards (music teacher); Louise Risby; Celeste Roberts; Vince Roberts; Celeste
Spencer Robinson; Milton
Robinson; Carl Rodney; Gonsalo Rubalcaba; Frankie Rubain; David Sanchez; Keith Seymour; Stan
(Lord Necktie) Seymour (see photo and story below); James Seymour; Busta Simmons;
Derek Simmons; Cal Simons; the late Hubert Smith (see story below); his son George Smith; Kenneth Smith; Maxwell Smith; Gene (Eugene) Steede; Pinky (Frances) Steede (both were discovered by Don Gibson
in 1959, when Gene delivered mail in Pembroke Parish); Robin
Spencer-Arscott; Robert Symonds; Robert
Symons; Kingsley Swan; Archie Talbot; Austin Talbot; "Blackie" Talbot;
Roy Talbot; dancer
Ricky Tatem; Judy
Tavares (she is a singer and wrote the song "Bermuda, Beautiful
Bermuda"); Terry-Lynn Thompson; Val Wallace; Val Wallace; John White; Pam
White; Wanda Ray Willis; Eric Witter; Cal Wilkinson; Ginea Wolf; Mandy Wong;
John Woolridge; Wence Woolridge; Joe Wylie; Erskine Zuill.
Their music is still available on old cassettes, LPs or newer CDs.
Some groups are Gombey dancers, gospel singers, drum majorette bands, live jazz ensembles, modern reggae bands and more.
Graham and Moira Bean. Mr. Bean, before becoming popular in the original Coral Islanders and the Jack Hammer Quintette, studied music with Les Paul.
Mrs. Bean started her career working with the Bethel AME Quartet, singing every Sunday morning on the radio, before working with Mr. Bean on her debut album, 'Moria.'Sydney Bean was the "Daddy of Calypso in Bermuda", a prolific songwriter and probably Bermuda's most recognized entertainer and musician. He received his musical training in church. He taught himself guitar and bass and sang with the Mark Williams Band. Always dressed in colorful outfits and rarely photographed without an instrument in his arms, he was a pioneer in creating a distinct Bermudian calypso sound.
Brian and Sandy Butterfield. Mr. Butterfield made a name for himself in the shows "Boat in a Bottle," and "Gombey," becoming the drum major for the North Shore Majorettes. After their marriage in 1963, Mrs. Butterfield joined the show "Bermuda is Another World" with Mr. Butterfield as a dancer and the Islands first female steel pan player.
Alfred Harris, Big Al, was a Bermuda music legend, a phenomenal pianist and made a significant contribution to the development of live music in Bermuda. By 1945, Big Al formed his own 12-piece orchestra and later his Calypso Band. In addition to being an accomplished pianist, he also coached many aspiring vocalists such as Pam White and Violetta Carmichael.
Lance Hayward. Born in Spanish Point, Pembroke, in 1916 he was blind but as a pianist he and his quartet created their own unique claim to fame in Bermuda and the USA. At 13, he was sent to the Perkins School for the Blind in Massachusetts. It was here, his son Stuart Hayward says, that the musician refined his craft. When he returned to the island after three years abroad, he began a career in music that would last almost 60 years. It began modestly enough in local churches, but soon Hayward was a fixture in the island's nightclub circuit and was the accompanist of choice for artists like Carmen McRae and Marvin Gaye when they performed in Bermuda. Then, in the Golden Age of Bermudian tourism, he arranged and directed the Hayward & Hayward Ensemble, a mixed-voice chorus that toured the island's packed hotels. In the '50s and '60s it was hard for musicians when the hotels closed in the winter, soHayward took his act to Jamaica where he found employment at a hotel on the island's north-west coast. The membership of his quartet changed over the years, but it then included the likes of Milton Robinson, Frankie Roban, Ernest Ranglin, Clarence (Tootsie) Bean and Max Smith. In 1963 he moved to New York City where a long career in the city's jazz clubs awaited him. He got his start at clubs like West Boondock and Jacques-in-the-Village until he moved to the Village Corner, where he appeared regularly for 16 years. While in Manhattan he formed the Lance Hayward Singers which continue to perform his choral arrangements. Though Hayward spent the rest of his life in the United States, he never lost touch with his island roots. His son says: "He would come back to Bermuda every year for Cup Match and Christmas or else my mother would go to visit him. That allowed them to spend time together and apart, which I think was good for their relationship. When he would come here he would play in the Bermuda Festival. I think he was one of the first Bermudians to have a spot in it." He died in November 1991, after a long fight with cancer. His obituary was published in The New York Times.
Celeste Spencer Robinson, Bermuda's Queen of Calypso, reluctantly entered the calypso scene when Lancelot and Robert Hayward heard her unique raspy voice and wrote her into their stage show at the Opera House. Her popularity was at its peak when she sang with Kingsley Swan's band at Angel's Grotto and then later at Harmony Hall with Al Harris. In 1958 she toured the military bases in the US with Preston's Love Band and two years later to every American state with Dinah Washington, her highlight was a weeklong appearance at the famous Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York.
Hubert Smith started to play around with the ukulele when 6 years old; at nine he began writing jingles about his friends; by 13, he was singing to tourists on Front Street; at 15 he was spotted by Mark Williams 'grandfather of local jazz' while performing at the Opera House. He was asked to compose a song entitled 'Bermuda is a Different World' for a briefing tour. On his year-round ritual morning swim at Spanish Point, he composed the entire song - lyrics and music composition - but made the change from 'different' to 'another' to create his signature piece and the island's unofficial national anthem.
Kenneth 'Sonny' Flood, Kenneth 'Joe' Hayward, Robert 'Duke' Joell and Cecil Emery started playing together in the 1940s. The Four Deuces were renowned for their aptitude for rhythm. The ukulele and an upbeat tempo that made you move your feet created their distinct sound. Besides calypso, they also performed rumba, samba and the waltz.
Stan Seymour, Lord Necktie
Calypsonian, one of a long line of superb local entertainers whose names became household words, among them his friends and mentors, the Talbot Brothers. He once sang with Hubert Smith and the Coral Islanders. Like his grandfather, James Seymour, before him, `Lord Necktie' not only sings, but is also a one-man band who plays harmonica, guitar and drums. Some of his songs have become legends, including `Diddly Bops and Gooseneck Handlebars', which The Merrymen of Barbados also recorded. He sang for Lord Mountbatten just before he died, and for Princess Margaret he composed and sang a calypso "Streakin' Rosie." Thrice-crowned `King of Calypso' in competitions, he is also an author and artist. He published `Bermuda Folklore and Calypso Poems', and together with his wife and fellow artist Margaret recently painted the mural of Horseshoe Bay on a pre-admissions ward at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.
Gene and Pinky Steede. Mr Steede became known for his recording of the song 'Moongate,' and locally for his performance of the song 'Phantom of the Opera,' along with his writing and performing music for local commercials. Pinky Steede now lives abroad. In her time, she had a remarkable singing voice, the most famous by far of all Bermuda's female artistes and her presence always wowed the crowds at Bermuda's now-gone hotels such as the Bermudiana and Castle Harbour.
The Talbot Brothers started as a "Barber shop" four-part harmony in the 1930s. The original members were Archie, Austin, Roy and their cousin Stovell. They first began their musical endeavors singing in church and then performing for their aunties and at private parties. They were prolific songwriters on the topics of love and current local and world issues. The Talbot Brothers were renowned for their spontaneity and ad-libbing and incorporating members of the audience into their songs. Roy Talbot and his band of singing brothers were one of the major draws of the emerging nightclub scene back in the 1950s. In fact the band was so accomplished that their uniquely Bermuda-flavored sound travelled brilliantly. The band cut a number of discs in the US and also made numerous television appearances overseas The New York Times wrote this in May 2009. "Roy Talbot, the last surviving member of the original Talbot Brothers of Bermuda, one of the top calypso groups of the 1950s, died on May 15 in Paget, Bermuda. He was 94 and lived in Harris Bay. Mr. Talbot lent his voice to the Talbot's' distinctive blended harmonies and cut a striking figure onstage with his homemade bass. Called the doghouse or the Bermudavarius, it was fashioned from a Swift meatpacking crate and had a single string made from fishing line. As the Talbot Brothers toured the world, fans would sign the instrument, among them Babe Ruth, Bing Crosby and Tommy Dorsey. In their heyday, the late 1940s and '50s, the Talbot Brothers were a major attraction at Bermuda's hotels and clubs and at the private homes of wealthy Americans who were discovering the island. Their popularity is often credited with playing an important role in putting Bermuda on the tourist map. Songs like Bermuda Buggy Ride and Bermuda's Still Paradise, with their smooth harmonies and easy, swinging beat, helped establish the islands' image as a carefree, no-worries leisure destination. Roy Talbot was born in Tucker's Town, Bermuda, one of ten siblings. His father cut coral stone in a quarry, and his mother played organ in the local Methodist church. When Roy, his brothers Archie and Austin and their cousin Ernest Stovell decided to form a singing group, Roy's mother instructed them in the intricacies of four-part vocal harmony while playing piano accompaniment. The group gained local fame performing at weddings and clubs. In the '30s, as part of a Government effort to promote Bermuda's tourism industry, the Talbot's and other families were relocated so that Tucker's Town could be developed as an enclave for the rich. Today H. Ross Perot, the Texas businessman, and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York own vacation homes there. In the early '40s, as the new sounds of calypso drifted over from Trinidad, Roy, Archie and Austin joined with their brothers Bryan and Ross and their cousin Cromwell Manders to form the Talbot Brothers of Bermuda, a calypso group with a difference. Unlike Trinidadian calypso groups, the Talbot Brothers did not use percussion, except for an occasional conga drum, and their instrumentation was unusual: a blend of acoustic and electric guitars, harmonicas, a ten-string ukulele called a tiple, an accordion and Roy's booming bass. The group performed in floral shirts and straw hats. Bermuda Buggy Ride, a swing ballad recorded in the United States, made the Talbot Brothers the musical act that tourists to Bermuda wanted to see. In addition to original songs like Razor Razor and the nuclear-bomb ballad Atomic Nightmare ("I'm going to run, run, run like a son of a gun"), the group recorded popular cover versions of the calypso classic Yellow Bird and the infectious Is She Is, or Is She Ain't? which was originally recorded by Louis Eugene Walcott, professionally known as the Charmer, who later achieved fame as Louis Farrakhan, the Nation of Islam leader. American enthusiasm for the group led to two appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and two albums on ABC Paramount Records, Calypsos and Talbot Brothers of Bermuda. Roy Talbot's nephew recently published a history of the group with two CDs, Bermuda's Famous Talbot Brothers: A Celebration in Pictures and Song. Although the Talbot Brothers stopped recording in 1962, they continued to perform until the 1980s. Mr. Talbot is survived by his wife, Mary; a sister, Etta Talbot; three sons, Delmont, Vance and Brent; seven grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren."
Erskine Zuill taught himself to play the ukulele by practicing constantly and playing it wherever he went, causing passing tourists to stop along the roadside to listen to him. He was Bermuda's first entertainer on board the cruise boat Pricilla and was renowned for singing for two hours straight and never repeating a song. Throughout his time as a musician, he contributed songs to many local records and released a solo album, 'Calypso at the Carlton Beach' with local producer Eddie DeMello.
Bermuda postage stamps issue to honor Bermudian musicians
For any performers not shown above, consult the:
Should be consulted for any details of local musicians past or present.
Website folkclub.bm.
Phone 296-5676, fax 296-5678. Dr. Karol Sue Reddington, Music Division Coordinator. Designed for accelerated and intense study of languages and music, designated to sponsor the John's Hopkins University Program for talented students in all areas. One of four such institutions in the entire world - also sponsored in Bermuda by corporate foundations, private trusts and Bermuda Government.
Daylesford, Park Street, Hamilton. Telephone 295-5584. An active local group offering a menu of plays and productions, usually at its own small theatre. There is also an annual Christmas pantomime.
A 12--strong group of young jazz musicians. It had a very successful opening concert on June 16, 2001.
Private sector part-time orchestra and choir. Registered charity 323. Has rebounded after a number of difficulties forced the 40-year-old organisation to take an eight-month hiatus. The Society disbanded in February 2006, telling members that its executive committee had voluntarily resigned and that "it was not possible to elect another group of people to carry on the work for a variety of reasons." Problems cited included a lack of volunteers and more. However, it has rebounded in October 2006 and now has Gwyneth Rawlins as president. Orchestra members and new players turned out and formed a new executive. The group decided to secure a guest conductor for the immediate future and plans to hold its first concert in 2007 under the direction of Major Kenneth Dill. There are now Monday chorus meetings in the Cathedral Hall and Thursday orchestra meetings. The chorus generally consists of between 40 and 60 members while the orchestra has about 30. During business hours, anyone interested in joining the orchestra or the chorus may contact Ms Rawlins on 298-0893, Ms Poe on 293-5980 or Jane Lee on 205-1422.
Headed by Dr. Gary Burgess, formerly professor of voice and opera at the State University of New York in Buffalo. With 1000 students and approximately 25 faculty teaching strings to percussion, voice, brass, woodwind, guitar and piano. Incorporates the former Bermuda Conservatory of Music. Also mounts several public annual events.
P. O. Box HM 661, telephone 293-4147 or 295-8621 or fax 293-8789 or e-mail cwaddell@northrock.bm. Studio at 292-2192.
Bermuda's National anthem is "God Save the Queen." There are not many Bermuda songs written locally, the following are noteworthy:
Three songs — 'I Need All The Sunshine', 'All My Dreams Are Gathered Safely In', and 'Child of the Ocean' - all by Marcus Dagan - reflect his connections with, and deep love of, Bermuda.
Virtually all other songs heard or played in Bermuda - like Yellow Bird - while nice, are not Bermuda songs at all. Beautiful Bermuda by the Merrymen of Barbados is actually Beautiful Barbados by the same group. Bermuda Farewell is actually Jamaica Farewell with Bermuda substituted for Jamaica. Bermuda Woman by the Merrymen of Barbados is actually Barbados Woman by the same group. Most of the calypsos played in Bermuda by local musicians are not Bermudian or written in Bermuda. Always contact the authors directly for more information on songs.
For all songs about Bermuda, if authors or agents both in Bermuda and abroad will reciprocate the free courtesy website link, a free courtesy active link will be established to their website or song or both.
See and hear the steel pan music
of Tropicana
Steel Pan - Bermuda below as outstanding examples. In March 2008 the Bermuda
Government issued a set of stamps in honor of some of the most famous local
calypso singers and troubadours (see graphic).
Calypso originated in Trinidad & Tobago in the 19th century, as rhythms brought there by African slaves. At the time, the rule was that slaves were not permitted to talk while working, but were allowed to sing. Their songs were a mixture of their tribal languages and Spanish, English and French that their colonizers insisted they learn. When colonial domination of their region ended, they continued their custom of singing, but added new elements to their traditional songs or mixtures of songs. They argued, discussed, lampooned, got political, became sexually explicit and injected a lot of macho rubbish into their songs as well (like "When women say no they mean yes"). In Europe, Nina and Frederick, from Holland and Denmark respectively (Frederick had studied at an agricultural college in Trinidad), introduced a sanitized version of calypso to their fans. In the USA, Canada and Bermuda, Harry Belafonte did so, followed by Norman Luboff (whose version of "Yellow Bird" became the standard by which all other versions are copied).
Like Nina and Frederick and Belafonte, Luboff accentuated the more exotic and less ribald or licentious side of calypso for mass consumption. His idea was to make it authentic again, as the choral music it once was. What these pioneers in American-composed, Americanized and Europeanized versions of calypso came up with had a mass appeal to the audiences of their day. Their music was gorgeous. It is the kind of music many visitors still hope for when they visit Bermuda and Caribbean destinations further south, instead of the modern rubbish - not calypso or steel pan music - they too often find today.
Bermudian musicians copied liberally from the mass appeal calypso music of Nina and Frederick, Belafonte and Luboff. Not known at all is other beautiful original music - also superb - of more Caribbean islands, like ballads unique to their lands sung in patois or English from Martinique, Guadeloupe, St. Lucia, Dominica, Grenada, St. Vincent, Montserrat, Saba, Aruba, etc. Such music of before and during the 1950s and 1960s is no longer in vogue. Sadly, only reggae, from Jamaica - and now soca - seem to be popular among the youth of Bermuda. Bermuda has virtually no equivalent at all to Caribbean music, yet it does not lack in poets who could write good, unique local words, which good local musicians could put to music if they were given some incentives to write music truly from Bermuda in every way.
Frequently, Bermuda was visited by great calypsonians and steel band greats like Byron Lee & The Dragonaires from Jamaica (their 1970's and 1980's recordings of calypsos and the much more tuneful reggae then than now were superb), The Mighty Sparrow from Trinidad & Tobago, The Merrymen from Barbados. Steel bands were imported to Bermuda, stayed, became Bermudianized and are still here.
Steel pan music is more recent than calypso. It also began in Trinidad and Tobago in the late 1930s, long after slavery ended. It too was seen as reactionary, from young rebels of society. When the Bishop of San Fernando in south Trinidad recognized its worth and praised it as positive not negative, people noticed. Then the Esso Steel Band came along, among the pioneers. They moved to Bermuda in the 1950s but played worldwide as well. Carl Borde was their leader. Rolf Commissiong Sr was another prominent member. They thrilled audiences with their steel pan calypso music and selected classical pieces beautifully arranged for steel pan. It blended exquisitely the culture of the Caribbean, Africa and Europe. In the 1960s, a Trinidadian convent pioneered yet another form of calypso and steel pan music, with a choir that sang in a hauntingly melodic way a selection of Negro Spirituals and local spiritual melodies to a lilting steel pan accompaniment.
In many local churches, this is a long
established tradition. Sundays are alive with the sound of religious music.
The custom traces back to England.
A lay member of the church acts in a volunteer post as choir master or choir mistress.
Mr. David Nisbett recently celebrated 51 years as choirmaster, longer than anyone else in Bermuda.
The Roman Catholic Diocesan Choir is outstanding. The Bermuda Philharmonic Choir and Post Office Choir are two examples of non-church choirs.
There are several seasonal choirs and a number of school choirs.
Leading local artistes are Dr. Gary
Burgess - once an opera singer overseas and now a Bermuda Government
official and conductor of the part-time Bermuda Philharmonic
Orchestra; opera singer Marcelle Clamens
who used to spend much of her time abroad but has returned to
Bermuda;
concert pianist (and gardener) Peter Carpenter; Joyce Mary
Helen DeShield;
mezzo-soprano Jane Farge; and teacher of music at Whitney Institute
Middle School (and gardener) Lloyd Matthew.
Organizations involved in classical music include the Bermuda Philharmonic Society and Menuhin Foundation of Bermuda. (The late Lord Menuhin visited Bermuda to set up this organization himself). Also hear the Mozart Players Trust; Bermuda Middle Schools Orchestra; Mandy Wong, a Bermudian artist, a student at New England Conservatory of Music, but available for classical concerts; and Dr. Karol Sue Reddington, pianist, recent invitational performance at Carnegie Hall (at Weill), and piano concerts in Moscow, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong, Reykjavik, USA and Bermuda.
Individual Bermudians who have distinguished themselves in this genre include Sophia Cannonier, Barbara Frith, Patricia Gray, Suzette Harvey, Louise Jackson, Conchita Ming, Nikia Manders, Liz Pimental, the late Robert Simmons and Ray Tanver.
Modern dance.
Dancers similar to those in Africa and certain parts of the Caribbean, from black families. They dance at certain times of the year and on special days. They appear in the 2003 Edinburgh Tattoo. The word Gombey comes from the African Bantu language and means both rhythm and drum. Noteworthy and quoteworthy are the books "The Bermuda Gombey; Bermuda's Unique Dance Heritage" by Louise A. Jackson and "Bermuda: Traditions and Tastes" by Judith Watson. The Gombeys are unlike any other folkloric dance in the region. Bermuda Gombeys have always been completely covered so that you are unable to identify the persons involved. They are a serious and disciplined art form, not something that parents just simply send their children to. It's not ballet, the involvement of the entire family in the whole ritual is extremely important to the preservation of the culture. Most captains of troupes monitor very closely the performance of their students in relationship to their school work, for example, and if they are not doing well in school they may not get to dance. It's a totally integrated social enterprise, a way of life. Bermuda's only female Gombey troupe are Alisa Kani Girl Gombeys, a collective of fifteen women whose families are traditionally involved in the male-dominated performing art.
There are several. Bermudian James Richardson is a professional jazz pianist.
Only one of its type in Bermuda. Suzanne Dunkerley, also a member of the Menuhin Foundation, has been teaching Kindermusik to young children since 1995. Every year since 2002 Suzanne's program has been independently rated in the top 5% world wide.
See our Marriages in Bermuda.
P. O. Box HM 1179. Hamilton HM EX. John Campbell, Chairman. Bermuda Registered charity # 118. Founded after Lord Menuhin first visited. Qualified musicians are teachers.
With students from 10 to 13 years old from five middle schools, Clearwater, Dellwood, Spice Valley, Whitney Institute and Sandys Secondary Middle School. They are taught by Menuhin Foundation teachers.
Mohawk Radio
Formed in 2008 as a new musical group with a rock-n-roll vibe and strong Bermudian roots. Has a repertoire of original songs and classic cover tunes. Mia Page Chambray is the band's lead vocalist. Others are
Kieran Bradshaw (guitar), Ryan Prevost (guitar), Jon Armstrong (organ/keys), Melvin Martin (drums) and David Doar, sound engineer.A weekly list of where and when appears in the print edition of The Royal Gazette daily newspaper.
Amalgamated in 2005 with the Bermuda Ballet Association (BBA). Founded in 1980 and a registered charity, it is dedicated to the development of exceptional local dancers and choreographers. Their performing arm is the National Dance Theatre of Bermuda. It focuses on original works by Bermudian choreographers. Eight of the works have Bermudian themes such as Earth Tones (a tribute to the Bermuda Gombeys); A woman named Prince (the slave, Mary Prince); Cetacean (whales and whaling in Bermuda), Church Cave (a persecuted religious group who worshipped in the 17C in the caves), and more. The NDTB has performed at many places locally including The Bermuda Festival in 1979, 1993, 1996, 2003 and 2004, and overseas. Contact the NDFB at West Hall 250, Bermuda College, South Road, Paget, telephone (441) 239-4091 or dancebermuda@college.bm.
See National Dance Foundation of Bermuda.
Left for Disney World in February 2008 for a five-day trip to perform and record at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Studios in Hamilton, Somerset and St. George's. Phone 234-2164 weekdays) or leave message at 292-0446 anytime.
Last Updated: July
2, 2009
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