Moravian Music Workshop in Hopedale

The following is submitted by James R. Andersen (Uncle Jim)

It came as an interesting surprise when Joan Andersen called me and asked if I would be interested in taking part in a Music Workshop in Hopedale. I missed the plane on Monday, but by Tuesday I was there. Breakfast in the school gym at 8:00, lunch at 12, and quitting at 5:00.

I shall always remember as I walked in the Music Room most of the workshop participants was seated. Bishop Sam Gray was at the organ playing Morning Has Broken with his winning smile to all in the room. With the Text for the Day and a short scripture lesson, the whole cast, with instruments and everybody else singing the beautiful hymn Fairest Lord Jesus, the Music Workshop was begun with tremendous enthusiasm.

The rest of the days was occupied with practices in different classrooms with whatever kind of instrument they usually play. Instruction sometimes was given on the big blackboard in the music room, by the leaders of the music group, Bishop Sam Gray or Dr. Tom Gordon. It was all just a wonderful experience.

On Friday afternoon at the big gym, we all went down taking our musical instruments, and each group of performers done their rehearsal for the concert which started at 6:30 p.m. People came from the town to relax and listen to these students that came from Nain, Goose Bay, Makkovik, and Hopedale. Each took joy in doing their part what they was there for. We all just enjoyed a grand evening of fellowship.

On Saturday a tour to Adlatok some thirty miles in Hopedale Bay was very well planned and organized. To start off at 9 a.m. about 10 or 12 people in a big decked boat and several large speedboats carrying 4 or 5 passengers. When we arrived at Adlatok, the ones in the fast speed boats had been there for some time. There was a big dish of fried char, hot tea, cookies, and buns, plenty to serve the thirty people who made the boat trip. After a good hot meal, the majority went on up to the big river some six miles beyond, while the rest walked down a quarter of a mile where my great-grandfather Edward Mitchell from England built his house. This was in the early 1800’s. The house where my mother was born and raised until she met my dad, who was the son of Torsten Andersen from Norway, and was the first man to settle down in Makkovik, who had a family of five boys and six girls. This old house at Adlatok had a second storey with three big dormer windows in the roof. When I was a boy and teenager, Dad always took us to Adlatok, a cruise to Mom’s home, by dogteam. In that house there was a big Heintzman Piano, a Pianola, a small room like a library. It was full of books. Grandpa Mitchell had it all, and here I was at age 89, just filled with memories.

On Sunday morning at Hopedale church, where Mom and Dad was married in the late 1800’s, Bishop Sam Gray officiated the closing service while Dr. Tom Gordon played the organ. A big thank you to Rev. Tim Byerly, Glenna Tasedan, Bishop Sam Gray from North Carolina, Dr. Tom Gordon from the School of Music at Memorial University, St. John’s, Newfoundland. And also to Sister Marjorie Flowers who played a major part in keenly helping us all in many ways, including transportation to and from the workshop. Incidentally, it was Marjorie’s and her husband Brian’s comfortable cabin where we all dined together when we arrived at beautiful Adlatok.

I hope if any of you young students happen to read my report on the Music Workshop at Hopedale, support our Moravian Church. Don’t give up. To lose is not a failure. It’s an experience.

Uncle Jim


Note from Chairperson: Uncle Jim participated in the workshop as a resource person. He played his violin, and gave information about Moravian music and brass bands that were an important part of the Moravian churches in Labrador up until the 1970’s. He is well-known for his collection of photographs and videos which document community life in and around Makkovik. He has a DVD for sale entitled “James Andersen: Over 50 Years of Taking Pictures” and a photo exhibit of the same title at TheRooms in St. John’s.