Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka

「スリランカ交響楽団」

The Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka (SOSL) is one of the oldest orchestras in South Asia. Its first concert was on the 13th of September 1958 under the baton of Hussein Mohamed, with the well-known pianist Malini Jayasinghe Peiris as soloist in Beethoven's fourth piano concerto. Earle de Fonseka took over as conductor in 1960, a position he held with dedication and distinction until his demise in 2000. Lalanath de Silva was the conductor from 2000 to 2002. The present principal conductors are Ajit Abeysekera, Ananda Dabare and Manilal Weerakoon.

The SOSL performs four subscription concerts annually. In addition are given many other concerts on special occasions. Sri Lankan and foreign soloists perform regularly with the orchestra, while the services of  foreign guest conductors are periodically obtained. The SOSL takes special interest in fostering young Sri Lankan talent, and dedicates one of its subscription concerts to feature young soloists. It also organizes a biennial concerto competition for young musicians. The SOSL is a non-governmental organization which depends on public support and corporate sector sponsorship for its activities. (SOSL Home page

SOSLは南アジア地域のオーケストラでは歴史のあるオーケストラのひとつです。スリランカは1948年2月4日イギリスから独立から独立しましたが、その10年後の1958年9月13日に第1回のコンサートが開催されました。英国植民地時代からずっとクラシック音楽活動が続けられていたのでした。スリランカのコロンボ滞在時代に「スリランカ交響楽団(SOSL)」の活動に参加させていただきました。素人なので音楽の邪魔をしない範囲での演奏参加とステージ作りとか雑用をこなすように心がけました。

スリランカ交響楽団はアマチュアオーケストラです。オーケストラ団員は別の職業に就きながら土日・休日などを利用して熱心に音楽活動を続けています。通常の練習は土曜日の午前中です。練習場所はコロンボのシナモンガーデンにある「レディースカレッジ講堂」です。約3ヶ月に1回開催される演奏会も同じ「レディースカレッジ講堂」所で行われます。指揮はクラリネットのアジットさん、ホルンのウィーラクーンさん、ヴァイオリンのアーナンダさんが持ち回りで担当しています。オーケストラのパートでは弦楽器パートが充実していました。中でも私の師匠でもあるパートリーダの「デュッシー・ペレーラ先生」が率いる「チェロパート」は強力です。

管楽器・打楽器パートは弦楽器パートに比べると弱いです。金管楽器はスリランカ軍の軍楽団からエキストラ奏者(両団掛け持ち)が来ます。スリランカには音楽大学がないので木管楽器は育成体系が整っていません。もっともピアノ・弦楽器にしてもコロンボ在住の海外留学経験者に個人的に弟子入りし一生懸命練習してイギリス留学(奨学金獲得)を目指すというのが一般的な西洋音楽の学び方です。しかし留学して音楽を学んだ後スリランカに帰っても音楽の仕事はないので、優秀な人の多くは外国で職に就いてしまうということでした。そんな環境ですがドュッシー先生やアーナンダ先生等の留学経験者が中心となって音楽活動の輪を広げています。

Contents

スリランカ交響楽団が来日・日本で演奏
SOSL Concert in Japan


スリランカ交響楽団の演奏会のプログラム紹介
Some of Programs of SOSL Concerts

 

思い出の写真
 Photos of Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka

SOSL本拠地 Ladies Collage Hall
Colombo Lady's Collage Hall


SOSL Musician List

It was one of the exciting opportunities for me to play the music as a member of Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka (SOSL in short) during the period of staying in Colombo. Actually, it was a fortunate occasion that I got the job assignment to work for the Telecommunication Company in Sri Lanka in which my working term was from November 2001 to December 2003. Beside My work at Business Office in Sri Lanka that was indeed very exciting, I had been trying to enjoy the life in Sri Lanka and to mingle with the People of Sri Lanka as much of possible. I thought that playing music together with Sri Lankan Musicians must be the nearest way so that I could make acquaintances of the Sri Lankan friends, because I had been enjoying the music from elementary school to University. I believes that "the language" used in the music is common all over the world, and Playing the music together can facilitate the friendship without verbal communication.

I enjoyed the music among the SOSL musician as one of minor players in the Cello section and as a privileged Audiences of music who could listen to the music among players on the stage that must be the best position to listen. In return for my listening to the music at the best seat, I tried to contribute to SOSL in preparation of rehearsal other than playing the music, such as stage arrangement, moving Grand Piano, setting chairs and selling concert tickets.

SOSL is the only permanent performing orchestra in Sri Lanka based in Colombo the capital of Sri Lanka. Members of SOSL are the leading musicians in Sri Lanka and are trying to popularize the western Music in the country. Their mail activity is the Concert activities which gives the chance to listen to the live western music to the various kind of people in Colombo. What type of music does the SOSL perform ? I think it must be helpful for readers to see some examples of the broachers of the Concert. They included the 5th Symphony of Tchaikovsky and 2nd Piano Concert of Brahms. It may be difficult for SOSL to play the symphony of Mahler or Buckner, but enough to play the classical standard repertoire.

My biggest gratitude has to go to my Cello Teacher at Colombo 'Ms Dushyanti Perera'. She is one of senior members of SOSL, and member of The Colombo Trio together with ‘Ananda Dabare (Vn)’ and ‘Ramaya de Livera perera (P)’. She always encouraged me not only at lesson but also on stage. Actually, I realized that listening to the live music is very important as well as practicing the music in order to improve playing the instrument. Through playing the music in cello section of SOSL under Ms Dushyanti leadership, I realized that enjoying the music must be the best way to improve in music.

The members of SOSL were cozy and friendly. There was no differences in creating the performance of the music between Japanese and Sri Lankan. Especially the members of cello section were so generous and patient that they could overlook some of my mistakes on stage. It was the important task for me not to disturb the performances and not to make bad noises on the stage.

Due to the daily night practicing at the flat and intensive rehearsals on Saturday at The Collage hall, my life in Colombo was very exciting and fruitful. I had been enjoying the music from my childhood in school band at junior high school and high school and at the Orchestra at the University in Japan. I had been playing the Clarinet until University Orchestra and I started to study to play the Cello about 10 years ago so that I can enjoy wider fields of the music to the extent of the Baroque and Classical works and the chamber music which are performed by the string instruments. I dedicate this contents to friends of SOSL in Colombo, I hope that SOSL can go to Jaffna or Kirinochichi in the northern part of Sri Lanka son that they can enjoy the peaceful time with the Tamil people one day.


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