Lisa M. Narcisse LRSM, OD (her preferred signature) in 1979 at King’s House, Kingston, Jamaica

Lisa Maria Narcisse was a pioneering composer of religious music in the Jamaican “mento” style. The principal goal of this project is to promote her music and make it available worldwide. An additional aim is to make information about Miss Narcisse and her contributions known to a larger audience, including music scholars who are researching classical music, sacred music, and music education in Jamaica.

Miss Narcisse was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1912. She taught music at Immaculate Conception High School for Girls - her own alma mater as well as her mother’s - for 51 years. Indeed, the school song, “Alma Mater”, was composed by Miss Narcisse. In addition to teaching at Immaculate and the Narcisse School of Music, alongside three of her sisters, she contributed actively to the musical life of Kingston, particularly within the Catholic community. Her compositions include the first Jamaican Mento Mass, which is widely sung in churches in Jamaica to this day. Lisa Narcisse was awarded the Order of Distinction by the government of Jamaica, for services in music. She passed away in July 2001, in a car accident which took the lives of Miss Narcisse, her sister-in-law Florence, and two other friends.

Lisa Narcisse was my great-aunt. It is my privilege to be heading up a number of projects to honour her memory. Most important are the commissions to Dr. Andrew Marshall for new editions of her compositions. In March 2025, three arrangements of the Jamaican Mento Mass will be released. The version for SSA choir and chamber orchestra will be premiered at the Lisa Narcisse Performing Arts Centre at Immaculate Conception High School (Jamaica) on March 15, 2025.

Donations to the crowd funding campaign which has underwritten the new publications can be made here: https://gofund.me/e38343a5

For other information about contributing to the publication project, or purchasing her music for performance, please contact me at kelly@amaryllis.ca. Two book projects are also underway - keep your eyes on this space for news!