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Choir of Trinity College, Kandy

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Choir of Trinity College, Kandy
Choir
OriginBritish Ceylon, Church Missionary Society
Founded1872
FounderClement Edwards
GenreChoral
MembersSchool boys aged 9-19 SATB
ChoirmasterLasantha Tennekoon
OrganistSadhana Madasekara
AffiliationTrinity College, Kandy
Websitewww.trinitycollege.lk/choir/

The Choir of Trinity College, Kandy, Sri Lanka, is a Boys' choir that continues a choral tradition dating back to the school's founding in 1872.[1][2] The choir plays a central role in Christian worship at the school,[1] which was founded by the Church Missionary Society, and continues its affiliations to the Anglican Church of Ceylon.

The choir leads worship at Holy Trinity Church, Kandy[3] on Sundays and two days of the week during the academic terms of the college. In addition, the choir is actively involved in the music life of the school.[4]

History

The choir was established at the same time as the school in 1872, with Clement Edwards[1][2] as its founding choirmaster.[1] From the mid 1940s[1][5] a rapid development of the choir is recorded with performance of operettas,[1] and publication of a book with traditional songs and hymns. In 1946 commenced an annual performance of A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.[6] Audio tapes of the choir were broadcast over the local radio and the BBC World Service.[1][7]

In 2018, the choir had the privilege of performing for His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Her Royal Highness, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, on their visit Sri Lanka on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II as part of celebrations to mark the country's 70th independence.[8] The choir led the singing of "God Save the Queen" and later performed George Frideric Handel's, Hallelujah Chorus.[9]

The choir performs mostly Christian choral music that ranges from renaissance music to modern music. In addition to that it performs secular music[10] ranging from folk music, pop music through to jazz, including Afro-American spirituals.

Choristers

The choristers consist of boys from the ages of 9 to 19 years. They are chosen generally at the younger ages as young sopranos and continue to remain as choristers until they graduate from school. They are not essentially students of music or singing, but auditioned based on their keenness to sing.

Events

There are two regular traditional events in the year for the choir, 'A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols'[11] held in Advent, which has been held close to 50 years at the Chapel. 'The Cross & Triumph of Christ', similar to the traditional 'Cross of Christ'[12] at Lent, is held on Palm Sunday. In addition to these events, a public concert with secular music is staged by the choir mid-year.[10]

The choir also has performance engagements throughout the year, including collaborated events[13] with other choirs[10] and music festivals.[14][15] These include choirs from other schools[16][17] both local and international, including performances with the Assens Boys Choir[18] and the Choir of Jesus College, Cambridge.[19][20] The choir also produced a recording of Christmas Carols in 2008.[21][22]

[23][24][25][26]

Choirmasters/mistresses and accompanists

Choirmasters/mistresses

  • 1872: Clement Edwards
  • 1880: Cyril Siebel

No records of some years in between

  • 1940: Valesca Reimann
  • 1946: Maj. Gordon Burrows,(Aide-de-camp of Lord Mountbatten)[27]
  • 1963: Kay Cripps and Rev. Michael Brown
  • 1965: Ronald Thangiah
  • 1973: Dilanthi Fernando
  • 1974: Dilanthi Fernando and Harry Goonethilake
  • 1975: Walter Perera
  • 1981: Harry Goonathilake
  • 1983: Andrew Pye
  • 1986: Ronald Thangiah
  • 2007–present: Lasantha Tennekoon

Accompanists

  • 1957: Errol Fernando
  • 1964: Barnabas Alexander
  • 2009–present: Sadhana Madasekara

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Abeyaratne, Hilary (17 March 1972). Trinity College Centenary Number. Kandy, Sri Lanka.: Trinity College Kandy. pp. 33, 310–311.
  2. ^ a b Reimann, Valesca L O (1922). A history of Trinity College, Kandy. Madras: Diocesan Press. p. 9.
  3. ^ "Holy Trinity Church - Diocese of Kurunegala". Diocese of Kurunegala - The Church of Ceylon. Archived from the original on 13 June 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  4. ^ "The Earl and Countess of Wessex with The Choir". Trinity College Kandy. 4 February 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  5. ^ Van Der Poorten, Emil. "Looking Back From 21st Century In Sri Lanka". The Sunday Leader, Sri Lanka.
  6. ^ "Trinity College Carol Service-The Story". 26 November 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  7. ^ "The story of Major Gordon Burrows". www.trinitycollege.lk. 23 April 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  8. ^ "The Earl and Countess of Wessex celebrate UK-SL links during visit to Kandy".
  9. ^ "Royal visitors for Anglican Trinity College in Kandy, Sri Lanka".
  10. ^ a b c "Rhymes to Rhapsody". Trinity College, Kandy. March 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  11. ^ "Carols at Trinity". Jungle Tide. Archived from the original on 22 April 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  12. ^ "Trinity College choir performs Easter programme". The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka.
  13. ^ "A Songful Learning Collaboration". The Sunday Times Sri Lanka. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  14. ^ De Alwis, Sharm. "Hymns and readings that filled the Trinity chapel with ethereal quality". The Sunday Times. Sri Lanka. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  15. ^ "Choirs Come Together At 11th Festival Of Choirs". The Sunday Leader, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  16. ^ "Special combined-choir carol service". The Sunday Times. Sri Lanka. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  17. ^ "200 voices and more in harmony at the Cathedral". The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka.
  18. ^ "Concert Tour in Sri Lanka". Syngedrengene. Assens Boy Singers. Archived from the original on 15 May 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  19. ^ Premawardena, Namali. "A rare and beautiful evening at the Trinity College Chapel" The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka) 28 December 2014, Retrieved on 18 April 2018.
  20. ^ "Sri Lanka 2014". Jesus College Choir. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  21. ^ "TCK Choir to release CD". Nation, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 15 May 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  22. ^ "Trinity Chapel to resound with the sounds of carols, today". The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  23. ^ "Royal visitors for Anglican Trinity College in Kandy, Sri Lanka". www.anglicannews.org. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  24. ^ "ABBA Father". www.cathedral.lk. © Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  25. ^ "Barnabas Alexander-A legend in his own time". www.trinitycollege.lk. 9 December 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  26. ^ "A glorious hope for a more mindful future". www.themorning.lk. 29 August 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  27. ^ "The story of Major Gordon Burrows | Trinity College Kandy - Respice Finem". 23 April 2021.
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