They Felt the Spirit and Said So

Trinity Transforms Quaint Dutch Village Into Community of Gospel Praise

Joyce Garrett directs Trinity Choir in last appearance of 2014 European Tour.

MONNICKENDAM, The Netherlands—Trinity Choir’s 2014 European Tour officially ended in this charming hamlet in the Dutch province of North Holland. And for just a few hours, St. Nicholas and St. Anthony’s Catholic Church sounded very much like Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia . . . with an accent, of course.

“We want more, we want more, we want more!” villagers and visitors chanted as director Joyce Garrett and accompanist Melvin Bryant Jr. followed the 54-member ensemble down the center aisle and, eventually, outside to the front of the church to greet the grateful flock.

The reaction has been the same throughout the tour after Alfred Street’s expressive soloists and power-packed sopranos, altos, tenors and basses delivered soulful rendition of hymns, spirituals and gospel favorites. The worshippers, observers and tourists came to their feet, clapped their hands displaying wide, appreciative smiles. Tears flooded some eyes; other folks shook their heads in quiet acknowledgement of the inspiration received.

It started September 22 at Eglise La Madeleine in Paris; continued September 25 at Sint Salvator Cathedral in Bruges, Belgium, and concluded September 28 in Monnickendam, a 20-minute drive from Amsterdam.  (The final concert was streamed live on the Internet by PIM, a local media enterprise, and will be available for purchase on DVD in mid-October.)

But few in the audiences will ever know or understand how much time, effort and thought went into planning, practicing and performing the 16-piece repertoire.

“I had to consider the flow, the key signature and how much my singers could effectively retain during a busy travel schedule,” says Ms. Garrett, the choir’s director and minister of music at Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia. “That means thinking about what the audience sees and hears.”

Ms. Garrett says she began compiling the repertoire months ago while choir members were learning songs to render at regular church services. Once those were learned, she added pieces with varied genre, color, texture and pitch. And with the dynamic pianism of Mr. Bryant, who provided steady tempo, color and a joyous gospel bounce, there was nothing left to shout but Hallelujah!

Director Garrett's interview with PIM-TV will reportedly be
included in the DVD. It was conducted during intermission. 

DVD AVAILABLE IN MID-OCTOBER: PIM-TV Director Willejan Buter says DVDs of Trinity's Monnickendam concert will be available for sale in mid-October. Price: $15 Euros/$18 USD plus shipping and handling. To order, write info@omroep-pim.nl and request the number of copies you desire. Willejan says you will be sent a PayPal link to complete the transaction.

Willejan Buter (top) with assistant Tom. Equipment used in creating live Internet
stream and DVD included 4 cameras, 8 mics, light banks, switcher, audio board.

Trinity Repertoire Reflects Deep Music Roots

Pianist Melvin Bryant Jr., who will accompany Trinity in concert.

     PARIS--Trinity Choir's one-hour performances in Paris, Bruges and Amsterdam will spotlight the complexities and colors of African American music.

     "It creates a cultural enigma," says accompanist Melvin Bryant Jr. "They love gospel music so much but they can't quite recreate it."

     That's one reason director Joyce Garrett's musical choices lean heavily toward gospel and spirituals. As Mr. Bryant quips: "Classical music . . . They've got that all day long."

     So Trinity will give the people what they want--the good news with sharps, flats, soaring solos and choral crescendos powerful enough to shake up the EU, including a soulful sax solo performed by Tempora Fisher on Amazing Grace.

 

Sax soloist and Trinity alto Tempora Fisher.

 "It was the first song I played in public as a kid. . . in my home church in Opelousas, Louisiana," says Dr. Fisher, a veterinarian who sings alto in Trinity and is also a violinist and pianist. "My late grandmother loved to hear me play that song. It's timeless, like a Shakespearean sonnet. And it's spiritual because it says, in the end . . . He's your Savior."

     Here's the planned list of songs:

HYMNS and ANTHEMS

-Sing Unto the Lord, a New Song by Gordon Young

-Amazing Grace, arranged by Evelyn Curenton

-The Majesty and Glory of Your Name by Tom Fettke

-Glorious Medley, arranged by Omar Dickenson

SPIRITUALS

-Every Time I Feel the Spirit, arranged by William Dawson

-I'll Never Turn Back No More by Nathaniel Dett

-Rockin' Jerusalem by Andre Thomas

-Spiritual Medley, arranged by Hines-Garrett-Hogan

-Done Made My Vow, arranged by Nolan Williams Jr.

-I'm Determined to Walk With Jesus, arranged by Raymond Wise

GOSPEL SONGS

-Jesus is a Rock by Glenn Burleigh

-Hallelujah is the Highest Praise by Anthony Pattin

-I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say by Shelton Becton

-Gospel Medley, Traditional and by Andre Crouch

-O Happy Day by Edwin Hawkins

-This is the Day Medley