{"id":70613,"date":"2021-08-05T10:05:33","date_gmt":"2021-08-05T10:05:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=70613"},"modified":"2021-08-05T10:09:06","modified_gmt":"2021-08-05T10:09:06","slug":"pass-it-on-a-choral-journey-spanning-half-a-century-prins-james-alagaratnam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/pass-it-on-a-choral-journey-spanning-half-a-century-prins-james-alagaratnam\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cPass it on\u201d \u2013 A choral journey spanning half a century- Prins James Alagaratnam"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201c<\/strong><\/span>Pass it on\u201d \u2013 A choral journey spanning half a century<\/span>– Prins James Alagaratnam<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

It was August 1967, the parish of St. Mary\u2019s Church, Colombo had just welcomed its new assistant parish priest Fr. Claver Perera. Together with parish priest Fr. Joe de Mel, St. Mary\u2019s had a resurgence in parish activity.\u00a0 Fr. Joe\u2019s philosophy of having an active youth community, favored Fr. Claver, who invited some of the younger choristers to listen to a collection of music he had assembled while in Rome. Those of us privileged, to listen to his dream of a youthful choral group needed no persuasion, and the St. Mary\u2019s Choral group was born. The following narrative relates the progress of the group, and the influences that sustained choral music through the years. Good choral traditions are abundant island wide and the Colombo choral scene has been, and continues to be alive.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Early Decemebr each year, the Ceylon Police Band and choir, conducted by Inspector Gerry Paul would hold their annual Christmas Carols at The Havelock police grounds. I recall, our mum and aunt walking my siblings and I, down to the police park to witness this event.\u00a0 The Ceylon Police Band was trained and conducted by Mr. Arthur Fernando. The crowd and choir would be led by Inspector Gerry Paul, through traditional and popular Christmas carols. The Police Carols, as it was known, culminated with a grand fireworks display. Mum a multitalented musician amazed us by playing any musical instrument and before entering wedlock, was the music minister for the Pentecostal mission in Jaffna and Kandy. Her musical genes must have been inherited. In our teen years. \u00a0Stephen, and I with our neighbor Brian Fernando, harmonized as \u201cThe Nightingales\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"AAt St. Peter\u2019s college, we would experience and enjoy the disciplines of choral singing, thanks to the influences of Fr. Marcelline Jayakody, Fr. Mervyn Weerakody, Douglas de Niese and Prof Earl De Fonseka, who trained generations, through the years. Many a musical, has been produced using school going Peterites. \u201cTrial by Jury\u201d, was one such, directed by Douglas Ferdinands, and Edward Dias with Nihal Fonseka, Sandy Reimers, Anton Karunaratne and Stephen Alagaratnam in the cast. In the lower classes Miss Noreen De Silva assisted by Miss Barbara Joachim were live wires in channeling talent onto the stage. St. Peter\u2019s had a tradition of producing tenors, the likes of Tony Don Michael, Bede De Zylwa, Nihal Fonseka, Gerard Puvenaygam, Fritzroy Jayetileke, Stephen Alagaratnam, Nimal Samaranayke, Maurice Wijesinghe and many more. Bede and Nihal would continue professionally as tenors on stage, and radio. There were good bases voices as well. Douglas DeNiese, Rohan Jayewardene, Kevin Ruberu, and then our basses in the choir, Raj, Milroy, Alan, Louis, Kumar, and Gene, together with my younger brothers, Geoffrey and Herbert. come to mind. A recent source in my musical memoirs, Alex Van Arkadie relates, Prof. Earl\u2019s personal persuasion to get members to choral practices. Choir directors, who had to handle so many personalities to sing as one, had their own methodologies. For writing this memoir, I owe thanks to Alex, my several siblings including, Stephen, Alan deNiese, David Sansoni, Jeanette Edelmann, Lois Roberts, all who have been part of, and are an immense source of choral history, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. A turning point in St, Peter\u2019s College singing traditions came about after the return of our very own old boy, ordained a priest from Rome. \u00a0Fr. Claver had the distinction of being the tenor soloist at Propaganda Fide, the pontifical choir and at the Sistine Chapel. That same year, in 1966, I won the college vocal music prize, from sixteen strong competitors. The highest entrants on record till then. The large number of entrants would have impressed and encouraged him. I would not meet him again until he returned as our assistant parish priest at St. Mary\u2019s Church, in 1967.<\/span><\/p>\n

I was already a new recruit to the St. Mary\u2019s Church choir which included some of the biggest names in sacred and secular music. With music direction under Prof. Earl, and organist Vincent Rodrigo, the church choir was the popular choice for weddings, that included soloists Lorraine Abeysekera, Bede de Zylwa, and many other known singers. Some of us, count ourselves in this elite, as we rendered a solo or two, by request. The traditional Easter Services, Christmas carols and Christmas midnight mass were conducted to an overflowing faithful. Pam de Silva, and Neville De Cruse of the original choir still keep the Sunday 6.30 p.m choir alive. Pre 1960\u2019s was an era of musicians trained under Spencer Shepherd, Lylie Godridge, who also trained the famous \u201cBlind Choir\u201d of Colombo South. Some valuable vocal lessons of messrs. Shepherd, Douglas Ferdinand\u2019s, Gerald and Joan Cooray. were shared with me, through close association of Choir associates, Neville De Cruse and Gerard Puvenaygam. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fr. Claver, with his experience of singing in Rome, and a yearning to continue Choral, A Capella and Gregorian music, enlisted Stephen\u2019s help in collecting an all-male choir. Under the patronage of Fr. Joe and assistance from then, Rector of St. Peter\u2019s, Fr. Mervyn Weerakody the St. Mary\u2019s Choral group was formed. This was an assemblage of anyone who wanted to sing irrespective of race or religion. Fr. Claver had the assistance on keyboards, of young and talented Nihal Basnayke. The first group of singers who practiced the Italian mountain songs, famous choruses and uplifting hymns, were an unlikely mix, comprising of a core group of my brothers, and the Tilakawardane siblings, together with Gerard Puvenaygam, Francis de Almeida, Raj Philip, and later joined by Joe Mustapha, Nilu Fernando, Alan De Niese, Milroy de Silva, Gerard Cabraal. We were a motley crew, whom some would refer to as, the Bambalawatte boys. The joy of our practices was the camaraderie shared.<\/span><\/p>\n

Among the Colombo colleges The choir of St. Thomas, Mt. Lavinia, was reputed for their Christmas tradition at that time. Old Thomian, Russel Bartholomeusz and Lucien Fernando directed and provided accompaniment for the choir.\u00a0 Lucien doubled as the organist at St. Michael\u2019s all angels church, Polwatte, famed for their traditional church music and radio broadcasts. The Cantata Singers, under the direction of Satiyendra Chellappah, Lylie Godridge and The L.G.Singers, Gerald and Joan Cooray in charge of the Philarmonic Choir were some of the other regularly heard choirs. The \u201cCatholic Choral Society\u201d under the direction of Fr. Ignatius Perera, had Fr.Basil Gabriel of St.Joseph\u2019s college, Prof. Earl and a host of accomplished musicians and singers complimenting them as the Cardinals official choir. \u00a0The list of members of this traditional choir included many known Catholic musicians of the era. They excelled in Motets and Madrigals, by Palestrina. and Monteverdi, and were internationally acclaimed for the high standard of music presented. Their traditional concert on the feast of St. Cecilia was always a sold out event. The Bambalawatte boy\u2019s choir\u2019s emergence, at first did irk Fr. Ignatius, but he would later agree \u201cmore voices singing to god is a good thing.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Far left: two profs on Keyboards Earl deFonseka and Valentine Basnayke at one of their rare duets on piano. Inset above; Earl De Fonseka. Below; Fr. Ignatius Perera.<\/span><\/p>\n

With the passing of Fr.Ignatius and Prof.Earl, music of Colombo north was stilled for a while, until old Ben, the late Bosco Fonseka and musical partner Denzil revived the Benedictine Chorale. Musical plays as well provided rich chorus\u2019s, and among them, The Colombo Singers were a leading theatre group. Elmer de Haan and Aurhtur Van langenberg contributed immensely to the group. One remembers Greg Rozkwoski, Mil Sansoni, Eardley Wijewardene, Christine Perera, Terry Kelly, Pat Siedle, Liz Banks, Kay Staddon, Aruna Bala, Sherin Pieris, Mary Anne Roberts, Navaranjani Olegesekeram, Nirmala Sandrasegera and many voices performing in musicals and operattas. Wendy Whatmore, Oosha Saravanamuttu, Sheila Mack, Indranee Alexander, Zilan Munaz, Haig Karunaratne, Andrew David, Jerome De Silva, Shannon Raymond, all producers have enriched and kept musical theatre alive to this day. Andrew David, Kenneth de Lanerole, Ernest McIntyre, Winston Serasinghe, Lionel Olagesekeram trouped on the more serious stage, but were seen in a musical or two. The theatre also was the start of many a romantic real life episode. We remember the early darlings of \u201cBoyfriend; late Chris Greet and, Anne Loos. Later, Andrew David and Mary Anne Roberts too would meet on the sets of \u201cOklahoma\u201d and \u201ctie the knot\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

The U.S.I.S, sponsored Broadway producer Bert Stimmel to produce Cole Porters \u201cKiss Me Kate\u201d that included an all new cast of leads that included Sherin Obeysekera, Lal Senaratne, Iranganee Gunasinha, and Stephen Alagaratnam in the lead roles. Local audiences thrilled to the favourite tunes of Porter, accompanied by the Symphony Orchestra under conductor Earl de Fonseka. One of the highlights was the rendering of \u201cBrush up your Shakespeare\u201d by the two mobsters played by Nimal Senanayke and Kevin Ruberu. Theatre goers who were fortunate to witness the robust male ensemble, delivering the Chorus \u201cWomen, Women\u201d in \u201cLehar\u2019s, The Merry Widow, agree that, such a rendering to date is unparalleled. I do digress in my reminiscing, but one cannot write of the St. Mary\u2019s Choral Group without mention of the influences of other musicians and choirs. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Among our early appearances, The St.Mary\u2019s choral group competed in the first all island festival of choirs contest, held at Ladies college, Colombo. Starting with the first bars of A- Capella renditions of \u201cNeve Non Toca\u201d and following up with one, of our range of mountain songs\u201d-\u201cQuel Mazolin di Fiori\u201d, the winners were a foregone conclusion. Ladies College was a regular venue for symphony and choral concerts. The choirs of Ladies College under the guidance of Christine Perera, as director, presented regular recitals. Following the success of The St. Mary\u2019s Choral group, we presented two concerts in 1967 and \u201868. The first was with other well known, artists for a fund raiser, variety at St.Peter\u2019s college hall, titled \u201cLoveliest Nite of the Year\u201d. When the curtain parted to reveal our first public appearance, the audience responded positively to the appearance of a fresh choral group of young men dressed in colored shirts, and not the traditional bow tie, compliment.\u00a0 The collection of Italian mountain songs and choruses we sang, had not been heard before and was well received by the full house. In addition to Lylie, The Italiares, Winston Jayewardene, the concert showcased the talent of the Bambalapitiya youth. We followed up with a second program, at the Lionel Wendt with guests, Lorraine, Bede, and Lylie, titled \u201cSerata Italiana\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"A<\/td>\n\"A<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Picture at left-Members of the St.Mary\u2019s Choral Group sing with the St. Mary\u2019s church choir . Right ;Scarborough Choral society\u2019s Christmas Concert<\/span><\/p>\n

The choral group owes gratitude to June Boralessa, then music producer at SLBC, where we recorded weekly programs that were aired on radio. Continuing with appearances in Kandy, Colombo and other venues, we would draw quite a fan base. More voices would strengthen the choral group. Those that would follow included Ray Forbes, Susantha Pinto, Joe Williams, Chandru Mirchandani, Gerard Cabraal, Cliff Joachim, Gnanasekeram, Maurice Wijesinha, Nimal Samaranayke, Nimal Suraweera, Anton de Cruse, Vethavanam, Stanislaus, Jerome DeSilva, Rohan Jayewardene, Gene Passe De Silva, Lois Roberts, Dwight VanGramberg, Prema Perera, Maithri Kurukulasuriya, Stanley Carvalho, Mano Paul, Keith and Andy Wijesooriya, Kumar Eliyathamby, Tony Martin, Gavin Senn, Stefan Corea, John and Rajive Aloysius, Jehan Bastians, Eshantha DeAndrado, Tyronne Paiva to mention some of the many talented men that enriched the choir. We had the privilege of accompaniment on piano by one of the finest, Prof.Valentine Basnayke. A crowning experience of that choral experience was being part of a 100 voices choir put together by Conductor Raymond Adlam under the patronage of the British Council, performing Verdi\u2019s \u201cRequiem\u201d at the Ramakrishna Mission Hall, Wellawatte. Soloists at this performance were Kathleen Brown, Lorraine, Fr. Claver, and Lylie. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In 1975, taking on the mantle as the first Peterite educated Rector of the college, Fr.Claver would continue his music and drama ministry, and as well, form The Peterite Chorale. Nivard Cabraal, Stefan Corea, our youngest sibling Ben were all young sopranos in their mixed voices arrangements.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bambalpitiya\u2019s music traditions emerged once more, when through the encouragement of then Principal Sr. Helen Magaret, and Estelle De Niese\u2019s coaching, a talented group of Holy Family Convent Girls presented \u201cUp\u00a0 Up With People\u201d. The lead vocals of Radha, Ramani, Maeve, and Penny, still tingles one\u2019s ear. The success of the concert, warranted repeat performances and continued in the following years. Soundari David continues the traditions with the HFC school girl choir graduating into an internationally acclaimed \u201cSoul Sounds\u201d. During the early 70\u2019s, the \u201cYouth for Christ\u201d movement gained prominence in Colombo and outskirts. Their upbeat choruses were very refreshing and drew crowds to their assemblies.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prof Valentine Basnayke and Prof Earl would provide accompaniment on piano for many of our choral performances. Soloists Lorraine, Bede, Lylie, Douglas and Estelle De Niese, Nimal Senanayke, Iranganie Gunesinha, Navaranjani Olegesekaram, Mary Ann David, together with Fr Claver would enhance our concerts.\u00a0 Messrs Anton Wickremasinghe, Harold Pieris, Ashley and Brigitte Halpe, Mrs P.O.Fernando, Fr Claver and Fr.Joe\u2019s family and many friends, would encourage and sponsor our young choir to reach international heights. Returning to St. Mary\u2019s, as the Parish priest, many more talented musicians and choral groups benefited by his guidance. The Youth Choir of St. Mary\u2019s with Nimal Gunewarden on Keyboards, The Peterite Chorale with the assistance of music teachers, were beneficiaries of his music mission. Fr. Claver would continue his missions at The Ampitiya Seminary. In December of 2005, a few of us were fortunate to drive up to Kandy and witness the annual Carols and Lessons he conducted. Sadly, after a brief illness Fr Claver passed away in 2010, His memory still lives on with the choir still strong with more than 50 years of choral traditions. We remember our other late choristers who left us for the great beyond, namely Joe Mustapha, Rohan Jayewardene, Ray Forbes, Raj Philip, Gavin Senn, Viraj Tilakawardane and my brother Herbert.\u00a0 The legacy of Fr Clavers music is continued, thanks to Neranjan DeSilva , Michele Fonseka, Geoffrey Alagaratnam, \u00a0Tyronne, and Eshantha together with many more who knew and worked with him, including current clergy. On a weekly basis most of the current group members sing with the church choir as well. If ever you are at St. Mary\u2019s Bambalapitiya, for the morning or evening masses, you are welcome to walk over and express your appreciation for their dedicated service to church and choir.<\/span><\/p>\n

Choral music was introduced throughout the island through the efforts of missionaries. Rich traditions of sacred and secular choirs continue to this day in the churches and schools in Galle, Kandy, Jaffna, the Eastern Province and other regions of the island. One such choir that would make regular appearances in Colombo was the Paynter home Childrens choir from Nuwara Eliya.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sri Lanka\u2019s choral traditions continue, thanks to efforts of Mary Anne David and the Merry-An Singers, Soundari David with \u201cThe Soul Sounds\u201d, Francis de Almeida\u2019s work in schools and churches, the legacy of Lylie continuing through Sanjeev Jayaratnam and the Revelations, Paul Jayarajan and now Manilal Weerakoon conducting the Philharmonic Choir, and the De Lanerolle Brothers. We have the Halpe family legacy continuing with Hasinee. A big thank you to Mano Chanmugam for his patronage and sponsorship of good music to Colombo\u2019s music aficionados. My choral journey continued with the \u201cDouble Octet\u201d comprising Lylie, Nimal Senanayke, Basil Joseph, Nevill de Cruse, Iranganie Gunasinha, Mary Anne, Felix Bartholomeusz, Douglas and Sita Senaratne, Harry Sandrasegera, and then with the \u201cMt. Lavinia Mens Chorus\u201d, comprising mostly old Thomians, and directed by Russel Bartholomeusz.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"AThe old \u00a0Thomians included Prem Niles, Shantha Hallock Rajkumar Massilamany and Eddie Appathurai. Eddie and I to this day continue to share many musical memories. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At Right- Singing with the \u201cMonks\u201d in Toronto. L-R- Raj, Louis, Fred, Stephen, Shane, James.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Saudi Arabia I had the pleasure of singing a Christmas Oratorio with an all American \u201cAbqaiq Chorus\u201d and then onto Toronto, Canada with the \u2018Scarborough Choral society, under the direction of welsh musician, conductor Tom Mitchell. One more musical thrill would be the arrangement shared with the Cathedral Bluffs Choir and SCS in an Easter concert singing The Battle Hymn of the Republic. In Toronto, Stan Arnold and Elmer Niles, my brothers, Stephen, Ben and I resumed our passion for harmonizing. Life takes us down many different paths. We formed a group \u201cThe Monks \u201cR\u201d Us\u201d with friends who had migrated to Toronto, Canada. The original Monks included Stephen, Raj, Louis, Fred Paiva and Shane Joseph. In addition to Fr Claver, and Prof Earl\u2019s training, I owe a lot of my choral memories and discipline to the guidance and opportunity of working with Indranee, Lylie, Russel, Dyrek Perera, and Tom Mitchell. The island of Sri Lanka has strong Choral traditions. Special thanks to the dedication of Missionaries and Teachers who foster and continue to produce memorable programs. This article is dedicated to all of them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cPass it on\u201d was the first joint recording of The St.Mary\u2019s Choral Group and Youth Choir of St. Mary\u2019s church, produced in the late 80\u2019s. On his visit to Toronto in \u201998 we were fortunate to get copies of his CD \u2013 \u201cDreams and Seasons\u201d. Many more recordings would follow with the music of the many choirs and concerts he produced. His only literary contribution was a collection of poems and reflections titled \u201cSeasoned Timber\u201d. \u00a0In it he gives valuable insight to Choirs, singers and conductors<\/em>. \u201cIt is a paradox or contradiction- when a person tries to create harmony with voices, while fostering disharmony within oneself. Everyone can learn something from the other\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cPass it on\u201d \u2013 A choral journey spanning half a century– Prins James Alagaratnam It was August 1967, the parish of St. Mary\u2019s Church, Colombo had just welcomed its new assistant parish priest Fr. Claver Perera. Together with parish priest Fr. Joe de Mel, St. Mary\u2019s had a resurgence in parish activity.\u00a0 Fr. Joe\u2019s philosophy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":70618,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"aside","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[36321,36322,36320,36323,7393],"class_list":{"0":"post-70613","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-aside","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-articles","8":"tag-fr-claver-perera","9":"tag-fr-joe","10":"tag-pass-it-on","11":"tag-prins-james-alagaratnam","12":"tag-st-marys-church","13":"post_format-post-format-aside"},"yoast_head":"\n\u201cPass it on\u201d \u2013 A choral journey spanning half a century- Prins James Alagaratnam - eLanka<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It was August 1967, the parish of St. Mary\u2019s Church, Colombo had just welcomed its new assistant parish priest Fr. Claver Perera. Together with parish priest Fr. Joe de Mel, St. Mary\u2019s had a resurgence in parish activity.\u00a0 Fr. Joe\u2019s philosophy of having an active youth community, favored Fr. Claver, who invited some of the younger choristers to listen to a collection of music he had assembled while in Rome. Those of us privileged, to listen to his dream of a youthful choral group needed no persuasion, and the St. Mary\u2019s Choral group was born. The following narrative relates the progress of the group, and the influences that sustained choral music through the years. 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