Sunday Times 2
Devar Surya Sena’s Communion Service at Scots Kirk
View(s):Those who attended service at St. Andrew’s, Scots Kirk, Kollupitiya last Sunday, November 1, were treated to a rare performance of Devar Surya Sena’s Communion Service. It was first performed in 1932.
Devar Surya Sena (1899- 1981) was Herbert Peiris, the son of Sir. James Peiris. He returned from Cambridge, changed his name, was interested in old Sinhala folk music and was a pioneer in the development of ‘Oriental’ Music as it was termed at the time.
Listening to the performance, I was taken back to the war years of the mid 1940′s, when the Junior School of Royal occupied, what is now the Capri. We 1st and 2nd Formers went across Turret Road to his studio to be taught singing, and the basics of ‘Oriental Music’. He taught us the scales of Sa, Ri, Pa, etc and the Vannamas – the musical rhythms set to the movement of animals.(He used the Gajaga Vannama theme for the Sanctus). He also taught us Tagore’s hymn, which subsequently became the Indian National Anthem.
The service was sung in all three languages and reminded one of the national anthems of South Africa and New Zealand, sung in different languages, united in a common purpose. This was a uniting of people with the common purpose of worship.
The Kyrie with its haunting melody was followed by the joyous Gloria accompanied by the rhythms of the table. These were sung in Sinhala as were the Agnus Dei and Sanctus.
The Creed was sung in Tamil, while the other hymns were sung in English. The hymn for Ceylon, arranged by Devar Surya Sena – words by Walter Senior, who taught at Trinity when Rev. Fraser was the Principal – was sung in all three languages. The first verse in Sinhalese, the second in Tamil and the remaining two in English. It was a moving performance.
It was fitting that this unity in diversity was reflected in the congregation which included all ethnicities and many nationalities – British, Europeans, Sri Lankan Canadians, Sri Lankan Australians and the Australian High Commissioner and her family. The service was conducted in English and the sermon was given by a Scotsman – Rev. Dr. Roderick Campbell.
The choir – Vox One conducted by Harin Amirthanadan gave a stellar performance, singing in all three languages, accompanied by the organist Denham Pereira. As a unifying event it was a great success; as theatre, it was a flawless performance; as an experience it was moving and memorable. Rev. Campbell congratulations and thank you!
-Tony Anghie (Snr)