Photographic Society celebrates Golden Jubilee

by Kala Bhushana L.E. Samararatne (FRPS FISLP ABIPP)

This year 2005, marks the 50th Annual International exhibition of the Photographic Society of Ceylon.

It is also named as the Golden Jubilee Celebrations. Incidentally this year makeS 114th year of advent of Photography to Sri Lanka and the existence of PSC for 71 years.

Going back to the history or the beginning, in 1934, few enthusiastic amateurs got together, established. The Photographic Society of Ceylon for the purpose of furthering the art and practice of photography.

From a membership of about a dozen it grew up to hundreds in no time, but had no permanent address. From Colombo Museum address it moved to Steuart Place Kollupitiya in the forties.

The premises belonged to one of its members, but almost free of charge.

It had a fine Studio, first class lounge, and two well equipped dark rooms. Undoubtedly it is the flag-bearing organization of its kind in the island.

No harm in saying these pioneers of photographic art, were projected through annual exhibitions. The society has produced some of the finest artistic photographers earning national and international reputation.

In fact the society must be proud that one of its members was called to Japan for Judging an International Exhibition, another had obtained.

The Fellowship of The Royal Photographic Society of GB both without fanfare.

To go back to 50 years or a little more, this writer was a member in 1949, and continues even today with a break in between.

The society had its doors open for entries even coming from India in 1950, although not at international level but as a neighbouring state.

During this period, the society was headed by Bernard G. Thornly as its General Secretary, a Director of Carson Comberbatch and Co. who was the driving force for its existence.

The stalwarts that moulded the destiny of the Society were P.J.C. Durrent, a planter, Joe Ebert, shipping master, Dr. Quentes Fernando a government doctor, D.C.L. Amarasinghe, a civil servant, Shadwell Meynett, R.S.V. Poulier, D.M. Ames, J. Chanmugam, George E. Chitty S. Annasamy, Palitha Rajapakse, Nihal Fernando to name a few.

Joe Ebert had his one man exhibition sponsored by the society as a farewell to him, before migrating to UK in the year 1961.

The Society was so concerned with the clarity of Exhibitions, Pictorial section of the year 1951 was Judged in England by R.H. Mason, FRPS, art editor of the Amateur Photographic magazine.

This exhibition was declared opened by Governor General Load Soulbury on 8th August 1951. Such was the standard kept all because most of the members were well to do, taking up to photography as a serious Scientific subject, as a hobby and also as a fast time for pleasure.

There were no other photographers, photographic societies, clubs, associations or Institutes like today.

There were no classes held except B.P. Weerawardane conducted classes at Technical College Maradana.

Other than these Pioneers, photographers were found only in studios. Today we find them in hundreds, all around.

Mr. D.C.L. Amarasinghe during the fourties was a member very much interested in the subject and the Society.

After Thornly left Sri Lanka Mr. Amarasinghe headed the organisation to keep it going as its Secretary General until he said good by to us recently. In fact he was a Trustee of Lionel Wendt Trust Fund and he looked after the Society Interests.

From Stewart Place Kollupitiya the society moved to Lionel Wendt Gallery in accordance to the wish of Lionel Wendt Trust document.

Lionel Wendt himself headed the society with the enthusiastic group and J.O. Ebert says in his farewell massage, that the society owes its existence to the pioneers and late Lionel Wendt for giving the premises for it to function. A priceless gift for photography.

The society opened its doors for international acceptance in the year 1953. Each year the annual exhibition by and large was what the photo enthusiasts were waiting for. It is on record in the year 1962 there were 1086 prints from 37 countries and around 200 prints were exhibited.

In these days the print media was very much interested in reviewing this annual event specially Lake House papers which did the reviews, well taken by its members.

'On Wings of Song'

Concert presented by the Colombo Philharmonic Choir at the Lionel Wendt Theatre on 8 October 2005

The Colombo Philharmonic Choir presented this concert at the Lionel Wendt Theatre to celebrate its 50th Golden Jubilee. This choir was formed on 6th December 1955 by Dr. Gerald Cooray, the famous conductor and geologist.

The concert was well-attended by an appreciative audience.

The programme for the evening included works of Mendelssohn, Guiseppe Verdi, Franz Schubert, Georges Bizet and Gaetano Donizetti. Apart from these classical compositions the programme included songs such as "The Rose of Tralee", "The Londonderry Air" (both being Irish songs), as well as "Early One Morning", "The Oak and the Ash", "Where the Gentle Avon Flows" and "The Eriskay Love Lilt."

The concert opened impressively with a rendering of the National Anthem, followed by "On Wings of Song", which lent its title to the programme. The tone of the concert was now set, and this as well as the choral singing that followed were sung with a great range of expression and feeling, varying with the demands of each different item. The singing was altogether pleasing and soothing to the ear.

The songs such as "The Rose of Tralee", "The Londonderry Air", "Early One Morning" and "The Oak and the Ash" were sung mainly by male voices and these renderings enthraled the audience.

There were four duets included in this programme, and two of these were with the chorus. Of these two duets,both composed by Verdi, the first was "Brindisi" (Drinking Song) and the second was "Miserere, quel suon, quelle preci".

The soloists were (Minoli Goonewardena (soprano) and Asitha Tennekone (tenor). Minoli and Asitha both handled their solos competently. These two soloists also sang "Nocturne" by Donizetti, which was without any chorus. These three solos reveal that Minoli has blossomed into one of the finest sopranos produced in Sri Lanka. Asitha, although yet quite young, has a mature quality in his voice and should gain international repute if further training abroad is made available to him. His rendering of opera is indeed remarkable.

I am informed that a sponsor is needed in order to expose him to such training and I hope that the sponsor of this concert, I.D. Lanka Ltd., or some equally generous company, sponsors him on his road to fame.

Asitha combined with Charith Peris in the duet from "The Pearl Fishers" by Bizet. Here too both singers gave of their best. Charith is a young lad who is deeply interested in music and I trust that he will go a long way in his musical career.

The "piece de resistance" of this delightful evening was the majestic singing of the "Triumphal March" from Verdi's Aida. Conductor Manilal Weerakone was at his best and so were the choir and the accompanists in the rendering of this grand finale to this Jubilee Concert.

Manilal, who conducted throughout with much sensitivity, did much to convey the grandeur of this "Triumphal March". The capabilities of the conductor and the choir were amply displayed in the singing of the "Triumphal March" and the encore called for once again reiterated the magnificent singing. The three trumpeters, Navin Fernando, Kelum Nishantha and Hemanga Samaraweera, who accompanied the choir during this item, played their trumpets in a manner which enhanced this grand and fitting tribute to a queen.

The music provided on the keyboard by Neranjan de Silva and Soundari David in the Iinterlude, and the accompaniment by them on the keyboard and piano respectively throughout the rest of the programme, helped the choristers to fit into the mood and feeling of each item.

The excellent arrangements made by the sponsors, I.D. Lanka Ltd., merit special mention as the evening's performance could not have reached great heights if not for the sponsors. The pleasing, tasteful attire of the ladies of the choir, the well presented programme printed for this memorable occasion, the wine and other drinks served gratis, and the unstinting financial support given, made this event a great success.

It is fitting to quote from the message of Managing Director of I.D. Lanka Ltd. Mano Tissanayagam contained in the programme, which inter alia reads "... what better way is there than to sponsor music which refines the human soul ...". I'm sure all those who attended this concert would have definitely be refined in their souls. It was a pity Mr. Tisananyagam could not be present as he was abroad.

The Chief Guest at this concert was Mrs Mano Tissanayagam and the Guests of Honour were Joan Cooray, wife of late Dr. Gerald Cooray who founded this choir, Irma Godridge, wife of late Lylie Godridge, a former conductor, and Mary Anne David, a past conductor.

Manilal Weerakone deserves special mention for having tirelessly trained this choir and helped the singers to capture the varying moods of the richly diverse selection of choral music selected.

A special, well deserved "thank you" to all members of the choir and committee for providing the audience with excellent singing and for a well organized programme. We look forward to many more such presentations in the days to come.

- Herbie Jayasuriya