THE boundless talent which exists here in Jamaica put in an appearance on Sunday at the final of the two concerts staged by The Philharmonic Orchestra of Jamaica at the University Chapel, Mona.

Like conductor Franklin Halliburton stated in a interview prior to the concerts, it was music by Jamaican composers which was the real standout and earned the respect, admiration and applause of a packed-to-capacity venue. Experiencing Jamaican music and themes with full orchestral arrangement was indeed a thrill and further showcased the breadth and depth of the local culture.The works of Halliburton, Andrew Marshall, Malcolm Arnold, and Paulette Bellamy comprised the local offering. These home-grown talents gave the likes of Jules Massenet, George Bizet and Leo Delibes a real run for their money.

Ave Maria, by Halliburton with choral arrangement by Marshall, was the first indication of the weight being showcased by the Jamaicans. This striking anthem has become a staple for the University Singers, but hearing this chorus accompanied by the full orchestra took it to another level. The sheer drama of it all, with the clashing cymbals and beating drums combined with the vocal dynamics of the piece, earned the programme’s first standing ovation, and rightly so.The second half of the programme, which comprised all local work, opened with

Festivities — the first movement from Marshall’s

Run A Boat Symphony. Here the Jamaican folk idiom was expertly woven into this symphony to great effect. One could hear traditional ring games in the tones and textures of this work.Bellamy is renowned for her work as a composer, arranger performer and teacher. Her contributions to Sunday’s concert left the audience only wanting more.

Suite and Tender was described as a mashup— a delicate interweaving of three popular works. She chose to make one of Bach’s

Cello Suite No 1; No Other Love, made popular by Jo Stafford in 1950 utilising Chopin’s

Étude No 3; and Elvis Presley’s

Love Me Tender. With Bellamy on piano and Emily Dixon on cello, the three tunes became one. The hauntingly serene melodies of the cello with the steady timing of the piano seamlessly brought the tunes together and again earned the audience’s admiration. So too did

Waterfalls and Pebbles by Bellamy and

Sonatina in C Major Op 29 by Arnold which featured cuban-born Rafael Salazar on clarinet and Stephen Shaw-Naar on piano.Rastafari came to the chapel with Marshall’s

Nyabinghi Symphony. The three movements showcased the talent of this composer.

The Processional truly set the pace and tone for this piece with the ever-present drum beat as if to mark time for a triumphal march. The second movement

Meditation, set the stage for the evening’s final piece

Zion Land, which featured the University Singers. With it’s chant-like passages brought to the essence of Rastafari ‘livity’.Of the foreign pieces, it was

Funiculi,

Funicula performed by the three baritones — Halliburton, Kester Bailey and Anthony Alexander — which brought the most delight. This light and funny ditty showcased the ability of our local talents to master the works of those from outside our shores. Likewise,

Flower Duet was giving just treatment by the string quartet of Phillip Ho and Gabriel Walters on violin, Darren Young on viola and Dixon on cello. So too did oboist Althea Neblett with the

Sonata in D major; and Kester Reid on violin accompanied by Angela Elliott on piano for

Méditation by Massenet.It has only been four years since The Philharmonic Orchestra of Jamaica was formed to fill the need for this this type of music in Jamaica. Over this relatively short period, this aggregation has been fulfilling their mandate and thrilling local audiences. Sunday’s performance was just another stop on their journey.