In celebration - The Soul Sound’s glorious quest

Gwen Herat

My brother in Wales, phoned me a couple of years ago to say that he had seen the best Sri Lanka choir at the International Competition in Wales where they were placed runners-up but truly deserved the first place.

I dismissed it knowing my brother’s passion for choral singing from the days he sang in the choir at Christ Church, Dehiwela before he migrated to England as a teenage student. I took him seriously only the day I found that it was the Soul Sounds that he had referred to.

So, there began my curiosity in this choir wherever they performed. The Glorous Quest presented at the Lionel Wendt simply charmed me though I had to hop in and out at intervals because of another event.

Choral singing that is synonymous with Soundari David is not confined to it alone. She is one of Sri Lanka’s leading concert pianists, is also the conductor as well as the choir’s accompanist for the Soul Sounds.

They have been on tour overseas during their short spell of four years to countries such as India, China, Australia, Kuwait and Wales and is scheduled to leave for Austria, anticipating to clinch the gold at the fifth World Choir Games.

They will be leaving shortly. Soundari just returned to the island after completing her Masters in Law at the University of California, Berkeley. While there, she seized the opportunity of being the pianist of Berkeley Gospel Choir and developed a strong passion for gospel singing under its conductor, Prof. Mark Wilson. Soundari is presently attempting to inculcate it with the Soul Sounds.

The Lionel Wendt theatre was buzzing with people who gathered to watch this great choir. The cheering youngsters were a good sign for tomorrow’s choral singing. The backdrop to the singers were kept neat and tidy with no distraction in the stage decor. A grand piano and few instruments caught up the carefully lit stage and its spanning done gently.

The sound engineer, Neranjan de Silva had the controls in hand with no interruptions or distraction to the singers. Infact, the sound fell softly on the audience. He projected every vibe very well. So was the stager manager, Akhry Ameer whose sober and well calculated stage management was brilliant.

It was such a pleasant atmosphere for the girls to render their best. Artistic Director, Jerome de Silva goes beyond being mentioned. He is one of Sri Lanka’s best in the field and one feels so confident with a job left in his hands. He contributed immensely for the success of the night’s performance. But I cannot say the same about the costumes worn by the singers.

On an international stage, the presentation is very necessary along with the country’s identity. Though Soul Sounds costumes were nothing to rave about, I hope they will think again what they are going to be apparelled with.

Kandyan saree of course, in a tropical colour such as orange or saffron yellow that blends well with our dark complexion. The hair to be set off with a single frangipani flower and to create a sensation, the girls can be barefoot with anklets. They will create such an impact the moment they walk in.

The singers

They were a bunch of wonderful singers, harmoniously blending without dropping a single note, nor overlapping and were in full control of their voices. The magnitude in their rendering was tribute to Soundari’s great apetite for perfection and her passion for chorals.

I was a little disappointed with the mixed chorals and wished she had included some chorals from the masters such as Vivaldi’s Il MOPSO (RV991) for five voices on Magnificat in G minor (RV 610) or some choral works by Handel, especially written for the church. Never mind, she knows best.

Opening the programme, the soulful rendering of Roshani de Silva set the stage for magnificence. It was the Gospel’s Song of Thanksgiving. In the classical section, Nella Fantase was the best.

Dinushka Jayawickrama blended well with Shehara Liyanage and she had a much stronger and powerful voice than Dinushka’s. Their chirping was well received and these two soloists were reward with a thunderous ovation from the crowds. Easily the best for the night.

Guest artist Damien Wickramaratna brought in the change with two songs at the guitar at centre stage. He is the lead singer with Mistik.

I felt the girls had more modulation when they sang Sinhala songs. Suwanda Rosa Mal reminded me of my schools days when it was sung by the late C.T. Fernando.

Soloist Ruwangi Cooray added a touch of magic to it and so were her back-up singers. Ganga Addara was immortalised with a touch of classicism and was rendered with such passion and aura, one could not imaging its melody to electrify the senses.

It brought back memories and the glory days of Vijaya Kumaratunga and may have emotionally moved his sister-in-law, Sunetra who was in the audience. This is one piece that Soul Sounds must include in their schedule at the World Choir Games in Austria.

For the audience tonight, the irrestible gaity, freshness and charm were all rolled into one. That is the signature of Soundari. Her amazing repertoire abundant in the voices of the girls, were truly rewarding. from soft soul-stirring drops of sounds to the mighty rendering of power-packed sounds were what the audience enjoyed.

Their rich panorama of Soundari’s dreams, visuals and sounds all incorporated into the themes and melodies deserve international exposure.

The fascinating and enigmatic celebrity is a true champions of a musician who is trying her level best to produce future ‘greates’ in vocals. She is bound to achieve what she is aiming at in what we saw tonight.

Soul Sounds’ principle sponsors for Ausstria competition are Sri Lanka Tourist Board, Deutsche Bank and the Dr. Earl de Fonseka Memorial Trust Fund.

The choir

Andrea Melder La Brooy, Roshani Gunaratne, Shehara Liayanga, Dinushka Jayawickarama, Ruwangi Cooray, Rozali Fernando, Shaza Wickramaratne, Michelle Joseph, Angela Rayer, Saumay Fernando, Magala Abeyasekera, Roshani de Silva, Natasha de Silva, Shyana Perera, Raaya Gomes, Manisha Hannan, Lilanka Boteju, Nilanga Jayawickrama, Ornella Croos, Shenali Perera, Tanisha Wijesinghe, Michelle Van Veizon, Nishantha Warnakulasuriya, Marissa de Silva, Dineshini Jayawardene, Dakshita Ratnayake.