Dear Editor
With respect to the (too) short BBC TV documentary on the Congolese Classical Orchestra whose self-taught musicians celebrated their 20th anniversary in 2014, it was a joy to see and listen to the sound of violins, so rare an experience locally in recent years. Indeed one could only wonder whether those who arrange the making of music have deliberately relegated to limbo those instruments that contribute to the classical sound. The piano seems scarce too.
And it is ironically during this reflective mood that from son Robert – a former Radio Demerara journalist – I learnt of the passing of Joyce Ferdinand-Lalljie, one of the most accomplished pianists in the country’s history. She hailed from New Amsterdam, Berbice, sojourned in Georgetown, where she is remembered as teaching at Freeburg (later St Cyril’s School) for some years, before migrating to the UK. She died peacefully in her sleep on Christmas Day, in Birmingham. She was ninety years old.
Only late last year I handed over a CD recording of her UK performances to the well-known David Dewar, to whom some ten or so years ago she was accompanist in a concert in Barbados.
Joyce Lalljie’s devotion to Guyanese music and song was steadfast, and not long ago she recorded Seymour’s Legend of Kaieteur there in Birmingham.
Her passing made me recall the Taitt’s sponsored Georgetown Philharmonic Orchestra which performed at the Town Hall (now City Hall), as if in competition with the Princeville Symphony Orchestra; of violinists like Bumbury, Koulen, Loncke who was my head teacher in Primary School and also organist at the Brickdam Cathedral.
Memory also brought back images of Lynette Katchay, Avis Joseph and other Lonckes at the piano. Overseas artistes included the redoubtable Winifred Atwell. It was in such illustrious company that Joyce Ferdinand-Lalljie shone.
Joyce’s body will be cremated in Birmingham and the ashes taken to London where her church will keep a memorial service. It is planned that later in the new year that they will be brought back home to Guyana, as she wished them to be scattered on the Demerara River.
Her surviving friends will look forward to sharing in this event.
Yours faithfully
E B John
