by Tyron Devotta
Meetings that go on for hours and passionate discussions are driving the ambitious project to honor Fr. Claver Perera’s musical legacy. As the organizing committee works to bring together singers from across six decades, the scope and complexity of this memorial concert continue to evolve.
The Planning
The most recent committee meetings stretched late into the evening, with organizers grappling with the logistics of reuniting musicians from different eras of Father Claver’s career. Geoffrey Alagaratnam, the spokesperson for the group, reveals that the central challenge lies in reaching everyone who was influenced by the legendary choir director throughout his extensive career.
“We’re trying to get everybody who has in some way been influenced by Father Claver down the ages,” Geoffrey explains. “The discussion was about how to capture the full breadth of his musical journey.”
Mapping the Musical Timeline
The organizing committee has mapped out Fr. Claver’s career progression to ensure comprehensive representation. They’ve identified distinct periods: the early all-male choir with Italian mountain songs, the St. Peter’s College era winning choral competitions, and finally the St. Mary’s Church Bambalapitiya period where religious and secular music merged in a male/female voice choir.
“We want to have a selection of pieces from all these eras to sum up the legacy – how it started, how it evolved, and how it continues today,” Geoffrey notes.
The Inclusivity Challenge
One of the committee’s key decisions has been to expand beyond the original core group. While a spontaneous conversation among former members of the choir at first thought to be an old Peterite endeavor, they soon realized the scope of this event was much wider. “It’s not a tight crew. It’s not exclusive,” Romeish De Mel, another committee member. “Anyone is free to be a part of this celebration whether in logistics, planning, programming, or sponsorship. It doesn’t have to be just the original group. ”
Programming Decisions
Detailed discussions have focused on creating a narrative arc for the concert. The program will begin with Fr. Claver’s traditional opening – “The Lord’s My Shepherd” – before moving through chronological periods of his musical development.
Key programming decisions include:
- A medley of Italian mountain songs rather than performing every piece in detail
- St. Peter’s era highlights including “Where My Love Lies Dreaming” and “Juanita”
- St. Mary’s period selections featuring Christmas pieces like “O Holy Night”
- His signature Neapolitan songs such as “O Sole Mio” and “Santa Lucia”
- Possible inclusion of operatic works like the drinking song from “La Traviata”
Logistical Realities
The committee faces practical challenges in staging such an event. Discussions have centered around essential requirements: professional lighting, sound systems, musical instruments, and recording equipment – all requiring significant financial input.
“We can’t expect anybody to do it for free,” Romeish De Mel, says. “We need to look for sponsors who are convinced of what we are doing.”
The financing plan involves both local sponsorship, crowdfunding and contributions, with even modest donations of $100 from overseas contributors helping to cover expenses.
Technical Infrastructure
Plans for documenting and sharing the event are also in the pipeline. The committee is looking into the possibility of professional video recording, following the successful model used for previous St. Mary’s Choral Group events. Recordings will be uploaded to YouTube, making the performance accessible to the global community.
Scheduling Challenges
Timing presents its own complications, as it is tentatively set for the 17th of December with the Christmas season offering both opportunities and obstacles as many potential participants in Sri Lanka are already committed to other seasonal concerts and church services.
“There’s going to be an additional burden on people who are already singing in various choirs,” Geoffrey admits, “but it’s well worth the effort.”
The Reach-Out Campaign
The committee has started contacting ex-choristers across generations. Confirmed participants who live abroad include members like Jehan Bastians, Stefan Corera, James Alagaratnam and John Aloysius, and they’re still in the process of approaching past singers who live overseas.
Notable figures in the Sri Lankan music scene who acknowledge Father Claver’s influence – including Jerome De Silva and Francis De Almeida – have been invited to participate.
Looking Ahead
As the committee continues its efforts, the vision becomes clearer: this concert will serve as both celebration and institutional memory, demonstrating how musical traditions evolved under the guidance of Fr. Claver Perera and how it persists across generations.
The organizers recognize they cannot capture everything about their old mentor’s multifaceted influence in a single evening, but they’re determined to create a lasting record for those who want to remember and honor his remarkable contribution to Sri Lankan choral music.
With several months of work ahead, the committee has their minds set on maintaining the high standards Fr. Claver himself would have demanded, while making this tribute accessible to the hundreds of people whose lives he touched through six decades of musical excellence.
Those who want to be a part of this celebration, please contact Romeish De Mel on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 077 005 5577
