Review - Choral Music

Simply Sublime

On Saturday October 24, an appreciative audience at St Paul`s Church Kandy were treated to a musical feast, courtesy the De Lanerolle Brothers and the choirs of four schools - Hillwood College, Good Shepherd`s Convent, St Anthony`s College and Trinity College, all from Kandy.

The first hymn Praise To The Lord, The Almighty, The King Of Creation was played on the pipe organ by the church organist Dilanganie Bhareti, as the tower clock, fitted 130 years ago, chimed the hour (6.00 p.m.) and the church bell pealed in tandem. This resonated with the majestic sounds of the organ music and the church choir. The participation of congregation added to the sublime moment.

The Vicar, Rev Neil van Dort welcomed the audience. The programme was led by the De Lanerolle Brothers, Rohan and Ishan, who were accompanied by Neranjan de Silva on his electronic organ. They sang When The Lord Builds The House, the well known Ave Maria and Bless This House, making the Kandy audience a privileged lot to be audience to a performance of quality, heard in concert halls all over the world.

Bringing together the choirs of four schools was indeed an unprecedented achievement. Each choir rendered two items with enthusiasm and commitment and the dedication of the trainers was evident and appreciated.

The choir of Good Shepherd`s Convent, trained by Nelson George sang The Potter's Hand and There`s A Song In The Air to the music provided by a recorded track. St Anthony`s College choir, rained by Apsara Alahakoon and Hemanthi Fernando, sang Exodus and Moment Of Peace and were accompanied on an electronic organ played by a member of the choir.

The choir of Hillwood College, trained by Tobius Visvabaratha and accompanied on an electronic organ by Suresh de Mel, rendered For The Beauty Of The Earth and Kumbaya, while the Trinity College choir sang Jericho followed by an Israeli Folk Song Hasivenu. The choir trained by Lasantha Tennekoon was accompanied on an electronic organ by Sadana Madasekera.

All performances were received with appreciative applauses.

The De Lanerolle Brothers who returned to the stage between the performance of the choirs, kept the audience spellbound with the second congregational hymn Praise My Soul The King Of Heaven sung to the accompaniment of the church pipe organ. This was followed up with Great Is Thy Faithfulness and I'll Walk With God.

The evenings programme culminated with a grand finale with the choirs of the four schools numbering 168 members, the De Lanerolle Brothers to the accompaniment of Neranjan de Silva on the electronic organ, coming together to sing I Will Give Thanks To Thee, I Wow To Thee My Country and the much loved Holy City. The young voices blending beautifully with the mature voices of the two internationally well known Brothers.

St Paul`s Church did indeed reverberate with the singing.

The programme came to an end after ninety minutes of exhilarating music and the crowd reluctantly left with the Holy City ringing in their ears.