By Derry Etkins
I had a very exciting, yet very painful experience, just about a month ago. On May 11, 2016, a theatrical production called, “ONE!” was held at the National Cultural Centre, under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Cohesion.
Russel Lancaster produced and directed the show, and honoured me by asking me to compose the soundtrack. I was particularly excited because, one, there would be original music; two, Mr Lancaster and I are on the same page, as far as producing music that is distinctly Guyanese is concerned, and; three, the music would be played LIVE! These three conditions, to my knowledge had not simultaneously existed in Guyana in quite a while.
There would be two violins (one violinist was pregnant), a flute, a steel pan, two keyboards, electric bass, electric guitar and, Indian and African drummers. Over a six-week period, I was back and forth with Russell, fine tuning ideas and concepts, and later, with Mrs Marilyn Dewar, who served as music contractor and, along with Andrea Mentore, rehearsal co-ordinator. I would be sending charts and MP3 audio files to Marilyn, so that the musicians in the ensemble could familiarise themselves with the music, and so that the dancers could hold preliminary rehearsals.
