Happenings / People

The Sri Lanka Police Band:

Grand Centenary Concert

The Sri Lanka Police Band will be celebrating its Centenary with a fabulous and grand concert tomorrow, Monday June 19 at the BMICH, commencing 7.00 p.m.

The program for this concert which has been put together by Lancelot Perera, Snr Superintendent of Police and Director of Music, Sri Lanka Police Band, reaches out to music lovers who appreciate the best in the different sections of music.

The members of the Police Band are highly versatile and as such the Centenary Grand Concert will feature performances of Classical Music, Instrument Solos, Vocal Solos, Dance Band performances and Latin American dances. The special performance by the Oriental Orchestra and the Sri Lankan Cultural Dances will be one of the highlights of the concert.

There will be guest performances from the 3 Armed Forces Military bands, Dr. W.D. Amaradeva, Dr. Prashanthi Mendis, Ivo Dennis, Kalasuri Latha Walpola, Subani Amaradeva and Swinly Perera. The concert will be threaded together by the popular singer/compere Clifford Richards.

The Police Band comprising 158 members headed by their present Band Master I.P. Nizam Mohotha, who took over last year, is an integral part of the Police Force and is called upon to perform at State functions, all Police functions, and also private engagements. The Band performs as a Military Band, Dance Band, in a small format for pop music, and can be booked for private functions at hotels, churches or private homes. Bookings can be made directly at the Band office at the Police Field Force Headquarters at Police Park, Colombo 5.

Interestingly, the history of the Police Band goes back to 1873 when it was formed on the suggestion of its first Band Master Carl Pappe. The men were enlisted as Police Constables, they were mostly Malays, were paid constable salaries and were housed in the Police Barracks.

At that time the Band comprised a Band Master, one Sergeant and 20 Constables, and held prestigious performances at Cinnamon Gardens, Kew Square and Racquet Court. Gradually the Band members were increased and the Band made their appearances in Kandy as well, the members taking with them their families, baggages musical scores and instruments!

Unfortunately, the Band's popularity was stalled when in 1887 due to shortage of men and funds, the Police Band was disbanded and the men were absorbed for normal police duties. But in 1906 to improve drill exercises it was found necessary to have a band, and the Police Band was reformed with musicians from the force.

The Band Master chosen then was Sergeant Major Shaik Adam, who was with them till 1925, before he handed over to CI Anthony Paul who was the Band Master till 1951. Other well known names who directed the music of the band were CI Gerrad Paul from 1951-1976, Lancelot Perera from 1976-1984 and CI Marcus Tissera from 1984-2005.

Its congratulations to the Police Band!

Misty in London

by Mahes Perera

Refreshing Sri Lanka an extensive tourism promotion event was held yesterday, Saturday June 17, at Trafalgar Square, London. The event was organised by the Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Tourism. Misty led by Rajitha Rupasinghe was one of the groups selected to perform at this exciting event which was designed to showcase Sri Lanka as a country for tourism, trade and investment.

The other group was Bathiya and Santhush with Ashanthi, projecting the contemporary Sri Lankan pop music. Now a band comprising six members, Misty, will be playing for the Cricketers Ball in London today (June 18) and as revealed by Rajitha the band will be returning next month to perform at the Festival of Cricket in the Shenly Cricket Stadium on Sunday July 9. On their return, they will be gearing for the Ladies College Dance which will be held at Waters Edge on Saturday July 29.

The band which has undergone a change of personnel and familiar names on the music scene now belong to Misty. Apart from Rajitha the keyboardist and vocalist, there is Damian of Purple Rain fame, playing guitar and responsible for vocals along with keyboardist Udaya, formerly of Friends, and Mangala - the guitarist who one time was a member of Aquarius. Sanjeewa the bassist also handles vocals, while the drummer is Dennis.

"Our music is dance, pop rock (international/Sri Lankan) and we perform mostly for gala dances and for corporate events. We have played at dances and events overseas including international events. Of significance were the annual Cricketers Dance in London in 2003, a performance in France for the Festival de Cannes in 2004, and at Sri Lanka's participation at the I.T.B. Berlin in the years 2004/05.

We were fortunate to have been able to play for the 'SriLankan Airlines' inaugural launches in China, Frankfurt and Karachi" expressed Rajitha, who was looking forward to Refreshing Sri Lanka.

The promotion was to be held in the form of a street festival with trade stalls displaying Sri Lankan food, handicrafts, tea, jewellery, garments, cultural and musical events.

Glen in concert at Barefoot

Barefoot will stage a farewell concert for the exciting blues singer / guitarist Glen Terry on Sunday June 25 at 7.00 p.m., who will be leaving Sri Lanka to return to Australia.

The concert will feature the return of the fabulous singer Jerome Speldewinde and the power-packed saxophonist Andy Thompson. Backing all three artistes will be Kumar de Silva - piano, Upala Madushanka - bass and Shiraaz Nooramith - drums.

The music content for the evening will quite naturally rely on blues since Glen Terry is a dynamic exponent of the blues and many were the ocassions when music lovers were treated to long hours of the hand driving rhythms.

Speaking with Glen the other day he indicated that he will be launching a new CD at the concert as a memento of his stay in Sri Lanka. The CD with an unusual title 'Sri Lanka in the Spare Bedroom !' will contain eleven tracks of blues, fusion and jazz played along with many Sri Lankan musicians who were constantly performing with Glen. The CD contains eleven originals by Glen Terry and four covers.

So keep the music of the blues alive a la Glen Terry by ensuring you get yourself a copy of the CD. Don't forget to make the date at Barefoot and catch the exciting sounds of the blues, that has a fascination all its own.

M.P.