Circle of Love rebrands with collection of national songs

By Shirley Thomas
The Victoria Regia Quarter (Circle of Love), under the distinguished patronage of President David Granger Thursday evening launched their Compact Disc of National Songs of Guyana, entitled “New Day.”The event, described by the President as “an exciting cultural experience” was held at the Savannah Suite, Pegasus Hotel and attracted a massive outpouring of support from a wide cross section of society.
Tracing the origin of the singing of national songs in Guyana, President Granger, exuding a sense of pride and joy, recalled that Guyana’s national songs have their origin in the centenary celebration of unification in 1931. British Guiana was formed from the three Dutch colonies of Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice. These colonies were unified under Sir Benjamin D’ Urban in 1831.
The centenary, President Granger recalled, was a major cultural festival. It witnessed, among other events, the first public singing of the Song of Guyana’s Children, composed by Rev. Hawley-Bryant, a minister of the Congregational Church. That song, starting powerfully and proudly with the words “Born in the Land of the Mighty Roraima” he said, has become a musical icon.
The celebrated Victoria Regia Quartet, comprised of Fenton Park (Leader), Clayton Hinds (Public Relations Officer), John Shephard and Charles Griffith, has been thrilling the hearts of Guyanese with their melodious presentation of clean and inspiring performances, mainly gospel music and patriotic songs over the last several years. They have also made international appearances and have performed at numerous functions hosted by the People’s National Congress/Reform, the current administration, as well as former President Donald Ramotar.
The CD, which has as its opening selection the National Anthem, also features a thrilling and heartwarming presentation of eleven more of Guyana’s most popular national songs, such as Valerie Rodway’s O Beautiful Guyana, Hymn for Guyana’s Children and Guyana the Free; M.A. Cossou’s My Native Land; R.C.G. Potter’s Let Us Co-operate; and Way Down Demerara.
Known until recently as The Circle of Love, the serenading group is typically a cappela – a group specifically known for singing using the mouth and vocals to produce various sounds without instrumental accompaniment.
The four grew up singing in the Seventh Day Adventist Church, and in time, developed a passion for singing. Today, even though having other occupations, they are rigorously pursuing this niche, and spend quality time producing that which, when soothingly applied, provides therapy, and is also said to be ‘the food of the soul’.
President Granger said national songs form part of our symbols of nationhood, and alluded to the nostalgia associated with the singing of our National Anthem for the first time. “It made us feel proud,” he said, adding that singing of national songs constitutes one of the most memorable of the cultural institutions created first by unification and, later by independent statehood [in Guyana].
President Granger said that Guyana’s National Anthem reminds us of our diverse origins and our common aspirations; that we are a multicultural society in which people of different races co-exist. The diversity of our society must not, however, be viewed as a handicap, since Guyana is enriched by its cultural diversity, the Head of State affirmed.
Meanwhile, the Head of State noted that Rebellion and resistance were common historical experiences which are venerated in our national songs. They remind us of the price that our fore-parents paid for the right to be masters of our own destiny and the price that our generation has to pay to protect our nation.
Commenting on the attributes of our national songs, he noted that they are, for the most part associated with Guyana’s growing self-awareness, its struggle for Independence and freedom from colonial rule. As he aptly put it, “Valerie Rodway’s Guyana the Free, celebrates the joy of the freedom.”
By this token, he exhorted the Guyanese people to sing the national songs with a sense of national pride and purpose.
Other hallmarks of national songs, Mr. Granger emphasized are:
• National songs distinguish us from other nations which, although they may share common historical experiences, are different from one another.
• National songs help to create that uniqueness by fostering a distinct national consciousness. They are an inalienable part of our patrimony. They shape our national consciousness. They define who we are
• They remind us of our common experiences as a nation
• Re-inforce our pride by depicting our country favorably;
• Re-affirm our shared values and aspirations; and
• Re-recommit us to the duty to defend our motherland, concluding that “National songs recall the sacrifices and struggles of our three hundred and fifty year-long rough road to freedom.”
Defence of our mother land
The defence of our motherland, the President emphasized, is a sacred duty, adding that the success of any defence depends on national unity and social cohesion.
“A divided nation is a weak nation,” he warned.
President Granger said that Guyana’s National Anthem reminds us that we are a multicultural society in which people of different races co-exist.
The diversity of our society must not, however, be viewed as a handicap, since Guyana is enriched by its cultural diversity.
Chairperson of the launching ceremony Cheryl Sampson recounted her past interaction with the group, through their performances for the PNC/Reform and recalled that music has always been the driving force that propelled them to action.
The Victoria Regia Quartet she said was so renamed through the inspiration of President Granger who requested that they put together a collection of national songs for Guyana’s Golden Jubilee. To date, Sampson, said, the Quarter has developed into one of Guyana’s most traditionally sophisticated groups.
The recordings were done under the coaching of Mr. Burchmore Simon, Chief Executive Officer of Kross Kolor Recording Studios.
Public Relations Officer, Clayton Hinds expressed gratitude to and presented tokens of appreciation to the many persons and institutions that so kindly made significant contributions to the preparation and launching of “New Day.”
The Victoria Regia Quartet’s DVD is now on sale at a cost of $2,000.