A songful, learning collaboration
“You Raise Me Up”, a rare evening of sacred music with the De Lanerolle Brothers will take place at the Trinity College Chapel on Saturday, June 6.
Getting ready: Young Trinitian choristers. Pic by Neson George
Each school term, there is a highlight event for the Trinity College Choir, including the Lenten service in the first quarter of the year and the carol service at its end. But choirmaster Lasantha Tennekoon is keen that the group is more immersed in a culture of music, rather than simply going from event to event. “Collaborating with other musicians increases exposure for the choristers,” he says, “it helps to sharpen their skills and widen their repertoire”. So the purpose of the event is in fact, learning and growth.
For the De Lanerolle Brothers too, despite years of experience on stages around the world, the take-home is a learning experience. “The school choirs always say that they want to learn from us,” Ishan de Lanerolle wrote to the Sunday Times about his and Rohan’s work with the younger generation, “but we always have learnt something from everyone and anyone.”
The idea took off in March this year, when Lasantha Tennekoon approached Rohan De Lanerolle about collaborating on a project. In Tennekoon’s words, Rohan “responded with enthusiasm”.
“The reason why we agreed is because, we believe in working with the next generation,” Ishan De Lanerolle explains. “They are the future and whatever we have, we must try and pass it on.” To Tennekoon, this response was “an unexpected delight”.
Over the last few months, a programme of sacred music, mostly popular compositions and arrangements of traditional hymns by John Rutter, Nan and Dennis Allen, Andre Crouch and Ralph Carmichael was finalized. Popular hymns, “The Lord’s Prayer”, Cohen’s “Hallelujah”, “I’ll Walk with God” and “You Raise me Up” are also in the repertoire for the evening. Knowing the De Lanerolles’ ability to recreate an ethereal glory in their renditions of popular sacred music, the evening promises to be memorable.
The Trinity College Choir has collaborated with numerous other choral groups over the years, and even the youngsters that make up the current group of choristers have worked with a number of amateur and professional choirs in the recent past. But working with a duo is a “novel encounter” for them, and one they expect will be “an exciting venture”.
“Moderating” the music for the evening will be organist Neranjan de Silva who has worked extensively with both the De Lanerolle Brothers and the Trinity College Choir. Regulars in the Kandy music scene, Suresh de Mel and Neson and Jonathan George will also join de Silva, providing instrumental backing to the singers. “There is a lot of humour, fun and laughter associated with planning the concert,” De Silva told the Sunday Times. “Everything so far is pointing towards all of us performers having a great time, and when the performers are happy, it rubs off on the performance. With the kind of synergy and rapport that is already present, I am confident that the combined talents will make the concert a memorable one.”
Admission to “You Raise Me Up” on Saturday, June 6 will be by token programme priced at Rs.300 available at the Trinity College Junior School Office and at the entrance. Proceeds from the event will go towards the Trinity College Choir Fund which serves the purpose of equipping Trinity College choristers with better opportunities for learning and growing as a choral group. Call 081-2232219 or 0776902096 for more information on the programme, and ticket reservations.