True soulmates in music-making
Memory helps recall the likes of Rev. Father Ignatius Perera and The Catholic Choral Society , which at the time way back in the 1950s was the earliest group of choral singers and which included voices of the calibre of Bede de Silva, Rajah Christopher and Basil Joseph.
They sang sacred music, and chanted Plain Song in the style of the monks of old. And I do remember the St Cecilia concerts, which were always the highlight of their repertoire.
LG Singers led by the late, and inimitable, Lylie Godridge gave their first public performance in1962 at Carols Around the World at Ladies’ College.
Those of us who have been closely associated with Satyendra & Mala Chellappah’s group, the Cantata Singers, used to gather regularly in their home at No. 6, Chelsea Gardens, Colombo 3 – but only to sing for pleasure!
We soon realised that January 21 was a day that was ‘special’ for the Chellappah couple, Babiyan and Mala; it was their wedding anniversary. And the special significance of that day this year is that it happened to be their 50th wedding anniversary!
The Cantata Singers was a gathering of friends who delighted in singing, and gave regular Christmas and Easter broadcasts over Radio Ceylon in 1967, singing Madrigals, Negro Spirituals and four-part Folk Songs.
The first public concert by the Cantata Singers was when the group sang Haydn’s ‘Nelson’ Mass with orchestral accompaniment at the Lionel Wendt on June 30, 1972.
The soloists were Lylie Godridge, tenor, Lorraine Abeysekera, soprano, Irangani Goonesinghe, contralto, and Martin Nelson, bass. [Lylie, Loraine and Irangani, having taken leave of us mortals on earth, must now surely be making the most delightful celestial music together!]
The next public concert by the Cantata Singers featured Handel’s oratorios, Samson and Solomon, followed by Mozart’s Coronation Anthems, and Pergolesi’s Magnificat. Next was Come Unto Me – a collection of Mendelssohn’s favourite works – followed by Schubert’s Mass in B Flat major and Vivaldi’s Gloria.
Babiyan Chellappah dedicated the 40th Anniversary concert to his Guru, Dr Gerald Cooray. The concert featured excerpts from Handel’s Messiah.
Writing about this concert later, I remember Herbie Jayasuriya noting that the work was rendered with a great of deal of expression, and that the well-known Hallelujah Chorus was “exceptionally well sung .The Conductor was at all times in control of the choir.”
The Soloists who have been associated with the Cantata Singers over the years include Sri Lanka’s leading voices: Lorraine Abeysekera, Irangani Gooonesinghe, Nimal Senanayake, Lylie Godridge, Martin Nelson, Mary Anne David, Menaka De Fonseka-Sahabandu, Asitha Tennakoon, Eshantha Andrado, Srimanthaka Senanayake and Peshali Yapa.
Babiyan Chellappah encouraged young singers and gave them the opportunity to sing solos; one recalls names such as Lilanthi Mendis, Nishanthi CanagaRetna, Erico Perera, Niranjala Thambipillai, Navaranjini Olagasekaram, Sharmini Wikramanayake, Dushy Michelle Perera, Avanthi Perera, Pat Nathaniels, Dinali David, Laknath Seneviratne (who, with his dramatic talents, later developed into an Opera singer), Krishan Rodigo, Dilhan Gnanadurai, Jaliya Senanyake, Shirani Mills, David Willinton, Mahen Peiris, Dayan Fernando, Prashalini Peiris, Enoka Corea, Radhika Watson, Anushka Abhayaratne and Asanka Perera.
Chellappah was fortunate to have accompaniment provided by Russell Barththomuesz (on the piano and organ), Mala Chellappah, his ever-accommodating wife accompanying the group at the numerous choir practices (on the piano), Thilanka Jayamanne (on the flute), David Ratnanayagam, Denham Pereira and Michael Sivapragasam (organ), Rohan de Silva (pianist, who now regularly accompanies the world-renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman), Navin Fernando (trumpet), Satish Casie Chetty (violin), Premila Perimpanayagam (violin and piano), Nuwan Senanayake, Neranjan de Silva and Soundari David (on various instruments), Dushy Perera (cello), Sujeeva Hapugalle (piano), Pritiva Atiken (cello), Ramya de Livera-Perera (piano/violin), Thushani Jayawardena (violin) and Neomal Weerakoon (tympani).
Chellappah was not one given to gossiping about other music groups except to make valid observations on their many strong points.
Mala and Babiyan are true soulmates in music-making. Many are the happy times we enjoyed hospitality in their home, No. 6, Chelsea Gardens, Colombo 3.
Now in retirement after almost 50 years of delightful music-making, we wish them both a Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary while also adding a deeply-felt ‘Thank you for the Music’!
I recall what Chellappah once told me: “The human voice is the most melodious and versatile musical instrument, able to convey every shade of human emotion.”
How very true!
-Dr. Selvie Perera