OKTAVE in harmony with De Lanerolles’ for Perfect Fifth
The De Lanerolle Brothers together with the choir OKTAVE accompanied by Neranjan de Silva, one of Sri Lanka’s well known pianists have organised a thanksgiving service, ‘Perfect Fifth’ on September 6 at 6 pm. at the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour in Colombo.
The event will celebrate the Brothers’ fifth anniversary as well as be a fundraiser for the Cathedral Organ fund.
OKTAVE at practice with Neranjan. Pic by Ranjith Perera
OKTAVE, the chamber choir was founded in 2009 by Neranjan de Silva and Rajeev Aloysius. Remembering their beginnings, Neranjan said, “The choir of St. Mary’s Church of Bambalapitiya which was started by me under the instruction of late Fr. Claver Perera couldn’t sing for weddings by mandate. Most of the choirs that I work with are either all male choirs or all female choirs. As people want a mixed choir for weddings Rajeev Aloysius and I started OKTAVE. We have a double quartet of two sopranos, two altos, two tenors and two basses.”
Their singers take turns going for performances as most have other commitments, being busy doctors, lawyers, fashion designers or working in management fields.
“When Ishan and I thought of doing this show together we thought of expanding the choir,” Neranjan says. “My target was 20 singers and we have 17.” The choir is made up of well known singers and directors of choirs, he says, citing Peshali Yapa who has her own choir, Eshantha de Andrado who is the director of three choirs, Srimanthaka Senanayake, choral director of the cathedral choir, Jehan Bastians whom he works with on his dramas, Harin Amirthanadan who has his own choir, Trevis de Silva, Sherene Vaas, Nadeeka Perera and Nadine Corera who all have their own choirs. “This is something that I’m very proud of, that people who are directors of their own choirs are a part of OKTAVE. Everyone in my choir knows more about singing than I do. I know nothing about singing. I’m not a singer I’m only an accompanist for choirs so I know what sounds right.”
The Thanksgiving service will have several beautiful hymns sung by the choir in perfect harmony. “Most of the items in the programme are where the congregation would sing along with us since this is a thanksgiving service. It’s all religious music. There is some really nice music with a lot of difference. For example The Lord’s Prayer will be sung in six parts,” Neranjan says.
Ishan de Lanerolle spoke of the urgent need for a better organ ‘a deep felt need in the cathedral” as he put it. The De Lanerolle Brothers have already held two overseas shows in Canada and London for this initiative
Tokens for the event priced at Rs. 500 are available at The Commons, Bay Leaf, Park Street Mews and Colombo Fort Café.