Choir of Trinity College, Kandy

Last updated
Choir of Trinity College, Kandy
Choir
Arms of the Choir of Trinity College, Kandy.jpg
Origin British Ceylon, Church Missionary Society
Founded1872
FounderClement Edwards
Genre Choral
MembersSchool boys aged 9-19 SATB
ChoirmasterLasantha Tennekoon
OrganistSadhana Madasekara
Affiliation Trinity College, Kandy
Website www.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.

Contents

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

No records of some years in between

Accompanists

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kandy</span> City in Central Province, Sri Lanka

Kandy is a major city in Sri Lanka located in the Central Province. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is both an administrative and religious city and is also the capital of the Central Province. Kandy is the home of the Temple of the Tooth Relic, one of the most sacred places of worship in the Buddhist world. It was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1988. Historically the local Buddhist rulers resisted Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial expansion and occupation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bathiya and Santhush</span> Sri Lankan hip hop duo

Bathiya & Santhush, also known as BNS, are a Sri Lankan pop duo consisting of Bathiya Jayakody and Santhush Weeraman, who met while at the "Mary Anne David School of Vocal Music" in Colombo. They both were born in Colombo, Sri Lanka. They have been one of the most commercially successful music acts in Sri Lanka in the last two decades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trinity College Chapel, Kandy</span> Church in Kandy, Sri Lanka

The Trinity College Chapel in Kandy, Sri Lanka is one of the more distinctive church buildings in Sri Lanka. It is situated below the Principal's bungalow at Trinity College, Kandy. The chapel is one of the first and finest examples of the application of indigenous architecture in the design of an Anglican church in the country. The building is modelled on traditional Buddhist architecture, reminiscent of those found in Polonnaruwa, an ancient capital of Sri Lanka, in that it is an open building with a lofty hipped roof supported by numerous carved stone pillars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of Ceylon</span>

The Church of Ceylon is the Anglican Church in Sri Lanka. It is an extra-provincial jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who serves as its Metropolitan. It was established in 1845 with the appointment of the first Anglican Bishop of Colombo, James Chapman and until 1950 it consisted of a single diocese; in that year a second diocese was established at Kurunegala.

Most Rev. Lakdasa Jacob De Mel (1902–1976), MA was the first Bishop of Kurunegala, Sri Lanka and the last Metropolitan Archbishop of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sri Lanka Tennis Association</span>

Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) is a national governing body of tennis in Sri Lanka, which represents Sri Lanka on associations like the International Tennis Federation and the Asian Tennis Federation. Its main aim is to popularise tennis in all parts of Sri Lanka as a professional sport and to produce top tennis players from Sri Lanka.

The Trinity–Antonian Cricket Encounter is the leading annual school cricket match of the hill country which is played between Trinity College, Kandy and St. Anthony's College, Kandy since 1914. It is considered to be one of the oldest annual school cricket encounters in Sri Lanka. This encounter is being played for the John Halangoda Memorial Trophy and is awarded to the team who manages to win the match by means of an outright win or failing that, a first innings win. But a first innings win will not go into the records as a win to the relevant team.

Abdul Cader Mohamed Lafir was an opening batsman who played for Ceylon from 1953 to 1970 before Test status was awarded in 1981.

Rajakaruna Navaratne Atapattu Mudiyanselage Wijeratne Banda Warakagoda, popularly as Wijeratne Warakagoda, is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television.. Career spanning more than six decades, Warakagoda is also a singer and a voice artist in Radio Ceylon. He is best known for the role "Korale Mahaththaya" in radio sitcom Muwan Palessa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hillwood College</span> School in Sri Lanka

Hillwood College is an independent private girls' school in Kandy, Sri Lanka founded by British Anglican missionaries of the Church of England Zenana Missionary Society in 1890. The school is situated in the Kandy Lake round. The school is managed by the Church of Ceylon and falls under the Diocese of Kurunegala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Paul's Church, Kandy</span> Anglican church in Sri Lanka

St. Paul's Church is an Anglican church in the historical district of Kandy, Sri Lanka on sacred grounds west of the Temple of the Tooth.

Trinity College, Kandy, is an independent private school for boys in Kandy Sri Lanka. It was founded in 1872 by British Anglican missionaries of the Church Missionary Society, modelled on British Public school tradition. Trinity offers primary and secondary education, and is a leading private school in Sri Lanka managed by the Anglican Church of Ceylon.

Gregory Shantha Kumar Francis, was an Anglican Bishop of Kurunegala, Sri Lanka.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cathedral of Christ the King, Kurunegala</span>

Cathedral of Christ the King is located on Kandy Road, Kurunegala, Sri Lanka. It is the primary Anglican cathedral of the Diocese of Kurunegala, affiliated to the Church of Ceylon.

Immanuel Gotthold Reimann RAM, CMB, generally known as I. G. Reimann or Gotthold Reimann, was a South Australian musician and teacher of music. He founded the Adelaide College of Music, which became the Elder Conservatorium.

John Devakumar 'Shaw' Wilson is a Sri Lankan educator and former first-class cricketer.

Godfrey Edward Madawala was a Ceylonese lawyer and politician. He was a member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon and the State Council of Ceylon.

Tharinda Ratwatte also known as Ashan Ratwatte is a Sri Lankan rugby union and sevens player who plays as a fly-half. His father Ashan Ratwatte was also a rugby union player having played for both Kandy SC and Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club. His granduncle Anuruddha Ratwatte was a politician.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Abeyaratne, Hilary (17 March 1972). Trinity College Centenary Number. Kandy, Sri Lanka.: Trinity College Kandy. pp. 33, 310–311.
  2. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 "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.