‘We are the Champions’
The Revelations to perform next week:
Sri Lanka’s impressive all male choir The Revelations did almost the
impossible at the World Choir Games held this July in the Austrian town
of Graz, known to be among one of the most significant choral capitals
of the world.
The Revelations emerged with two World Championships, the first choir
to have done so in Sri Lanka and in the whole of South Asia.
Now ranked 94th among the top 1000 choirs in the world, The
Revelations also won two gold medals and a silver to their impressive
haul of awards, The Revelations will perform at their celebratory
concert, ‘We are the Champions’ on August 18th at the Oak Room of the
Cinnamon Grand, Colombo.
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The Revelations: The world champions
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Directed by master arranger Sanjeev Jayaratnam and managed by Priyan
de Livera, the ten member choir that left Sri Lanka armed with fantastic
voices, an abundance of talent and lots of hope and passion for music,
were jubilant with their achievements, making them World Champions in
the Gospel and Spiritual (a’capella) Vocal Ensembled category and World
Champions in the Male Vocal Ensemble category as well.
This is in addition to winning a gold medal each in these two
categories and a silver medal in the Popular Music Choral Ensemble
category - a total of five awards in three categories.
The Revelations, although ranked ninth in the world in the Gospel,
Pop and Jazz category following their win at the Asian Choir Games in
Indonesia last November, seemed to be one of the underdogs in the Games
as they were certainly not the more touted to win against some of the
better ranked choirs.
President of The Revelations, Ishan de Lanerolle says jubilantly, “We
beat The Manado State University Choir from Indonesia, ranked second in
the Gosple, Pop and Jazz category and overall ranked 12th in the world.
We also beat The Crenshaw Elite Choir from the USA, ranked 7th in
Gospel, Pop and Jazz, and overall ranked 75th in the World.
But what’s even more significant is that within the 28 categories,
two World Championships were not awarded this year as the choirs
competing did not have the required standard. Hence of 26 categories,
The Revelations won two, a first for Sri Lanka because no other Sri
Lankan choir has thus far achieved this.”
According to Director Sanjeev Jayaratnam, while the songs sung by The
Revelations at the Games were primarily compositions and arrangements
from the USA, three songs which won them the categories were arranged by
him.
“Two were Gospel songs, while one, Venvela Giyath was composed by
Piyal Perera’s of the Gypsies, which, with permission, I arranged for
male voices.”
While enthusing that the most memorable moments during the Games was
the hoisting of the Sri Lankan Flag and the playing of the National
Anthem not once but twice due to The Revelations being crowned World
Champions twice and seeing a stadium of 5,000 people rise to cheer them,
de Lanerolle lays to rest some confusion about the winners and
champions.
“The awards system in the Choir Games is not like the sports
Olympics, whereby it you get a gold you are first, silver second and
bronze third. Any choir obtaining over 80 marks in any category wins a
gold medal.
Certain categories sometimes had in excess of ten gold medallists.
But only the choir obtaining the highest marks from among the gold
medallists is awarded Championship status. So a category could have even
ten gold medallists but only one Champion.
We were adjudged Champions with the highest marks in two such
categories. In other words, winning gold does not mean a choir has got
the highest marks in that category, but winning the Championship does.”
He further adds that the National Anthem and hoisting of the country
Flag is awarded only to the World Champions.
“In addition, the Champion choirs are also invited to perform at the
‘Concert of the Champions’. The Revelations were honoured to be invited
twice and are to date the only Sri Lankan choir ever to achieve this.”
This was reminiscent of the Asian Choir Games in Jakarta too, when
The Revelations sang at the Concert of the Champions having won the
Gospel category. “So we have sung thrice at the Concerts of the
Champions now!” Further insight to the marking process is added by
Jayaratnam who elucidates that the number of choirs participating in a
category has no effect on the final result.
“In some cases, only one choir participated and if they are not up to
standard, they are not awarded any medal. More choirs tend to take part
in certain categories because they feel they are more suited to those.
However, the judges set a benchmark and there are standards that have
to be met.”
Mentioning some of the challenging moments during the Games,
Jayaratnam recalls Ishan de Lanerolle losing his voice for a few days
before the Male Vocal Ensemble category, but fortunately regained about
80% of it, and went on to winning the championship plus a gold in that
category.
“But one of the main constraints is that there only ten of us,” he
says. “Everyone has to be 100% accurate in tone/pitch/volume et al.
otherwise it is very noticeable unlike in larger choirs. Also the fact
that we sign a’capella (without accompaniment) makes it that much more
difficult.
The Male Vocal Ensemble category was essentially for a maximum of
eight voices so eight of us sing eight different parts at the same time
in one piece. Once again accuracy was of utmost importance.
We received numerous compliments from other choir Directors and many
wanted to pose for photographs with us because of our unusual costumes.
In fact one Judge commented that the costume worn in the Pop Ensemble
category was very striking on stage.”
Built on the slogan ‘Singing together brings nations together’, the
World Choir Games, which is the choral equivalent to the sporting
Olympics, hosted no less than a formidable 441 choirs from 93 nations
with 71 international jurors judging more than 600 performances
comprising 20,000 singers in 28 categories. “Graz is a city full of
music,” states de Lanerolle.
“We sang for the fun of it on a few street corners and it was amazing
when within a few moments, without exaggeration a crowd of over 100 had
gathered and began to sing and dance to the music. Also, we used to
practice on the verandah of the Guest House we lived in and we found
people frequently stopping to listen and applaud when we finish a song.
Overall, it was an absolutely delightful experience, in a friendly
city with lovely people and a fantastic experience throughout.”
- P.R.
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