Music and Dance in my life by Dr Nihal D Amerasekera

We were fortunate to have spent our childhood in an independent Ceylon out of the shackles of colonial rule. One hundred and forty six years of British rule had left an indelible mark on Ceylonese society. We emulated the British and their ways infiltrated every aspect of the lives of the middle and upper classes.

When I was growing up what I saw around me had a tremendous and lasting effect on my life. I have fond memories of seeing the British way of life in my home town in Kegalle. Although the country was independent there were many British “up country” Planters still around. Those were the lazy hazy days of the immediate post Colonial Ceylon. There were bridge parties in the afternoon and all-women tennis fours at the Kegalle Planters Club. The Club was the hub for all social events in the district. This was the watering hole for the British planters and for our own Brown Sahibs. They drank whisky and played billiards. Those were the days of proper ballroom dancing of fox trots, quick steps and waltzes to the music of Victor Sylvester or Joe Loss Orchestra. Cricket matches at weekends and dancing in the evenings kept the members entertained. These close encounters fuelled by the booze often became a hotbed of gossip and innuendo. Our former British rulers believed we’ve never had it so good. Perhaps they were right!!

My early childhood was spent in rural Nugegoda with my grandparents. My father was serving in the “outstation” as a government  servant. I grew up with several cousins who lived in the same house, schooling with me. Then my aunts played the guitar and made us sing the Sinhala music of the day and also the popular operatic arias like Santa Lucia. We enjoyed entertaining the visitors and loved the applause and the sweets that followed.

I must not underestimate the part played by Radio Ceylon and its commercial arm in popularising both Sri Lankan and Western music. Lama Pitiya is one of my earliest recollections of a childrens program with stories and music. Siri Aiya, Karu Aiya and artistes like Indrani Wijebandara and Chandra Cabraal produced wonderful entertainment for children. There were many guests attendees like Rukmani Devi and GSB Rani Perera who enlivened and enhanced the reputation of this marvellous program. The Radio Ceylon English service too had some fine presenters and announcers who brought the music of that era to life. Hit Parade and Sunday Choice had an enormous following. We were glued to the radio when those programs were on. The passage of years has dimmed my memory of those tremendously exciting times which captivated and enraptured us during those heady days of our youth.

As I was boarded at Wesley College my love of music prevailed. I joined the choir. Then much of it was Church music.  It was Hymns during Sundays and special songs for the period of Lent. Carols services during Christmas were a colourful event. Singing together as a group was great fun and had enormous camaraderie. We formed barbershop quartets singing in four part harmony and also took part in Operettas. Those were immensely exciting times.

Our generation became part of the music revolution in the mid 1950’s.  The slow music of the crooners like Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Perry Como gave way to the intoxicating rhythm and the stirring beat of Bill Haley and the Comets. I well remember seeing Rock Around the Clock at the Savoy when the Bambalawatte boys danced unashamedly in the aisles of the cinema to the rousing and electrifying music. I was in the school boarding then and could only watch in awe and amazement the craze unfold amongst teenagers in Colombo.

It was not until I entered the Faculty of Medicine that I saw freedom. The permissive society had reached our shores with the hippie culture and the contraceptive pill. The excitement and the pleasure of dancing has no equal. The pounding rhythms drove us all into a frenzy. Being so close to female company in such subdued lighting heightened our sexual desires and sent our pulse racing. It was at University I learnt to combine the rhythmic music and the twirl and swirl of the gyratory dancing. The combination was awe inspiring, truly magical and immensely exciting. The University calendar had many dances held at its halls in Reid Avenue. It was here the students showed off their wares, girl friends, boy friends and their ability to dance. Alcohol gave them the confidence and lubricated the joints while the hormones did the rest. Live music of Harold Seneviratne Combo or Sam the Man provided the music putting us in the mood. There was the inevitable Baila session to end the night. Those were wonderfully exciting years.

When Duke Ellington visited Ceylon in 1955 he played in an airport hangar in Ratmalana. The school decided it wasn’t to be missed and we were taken for that thrilling performance. I still remember him play that simply magical piece “syncopated clock”. But it was in 1956 the film “High Society” with Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra . that brought jazz into my life giving it a new dimension.  Dixieland Jazz began in New Orleans. It was characterised by improvisations. I loved the sound of the brass and woodwind instruments and the strumming of the banjos. Radio Ceylon often played the piece called “Ice Cream” by the Dutch Swing College Band and this got me hooked on Dixie. I recall our batchmate  M.H Cassim was a fan of Dixieland music too and invited me to his home in Colpetty to listen to the Dutch Swing College Band and Eddy Peabody on his superb HiFi system in full stereo.

Exams came and went with monotonous regularity until it was all over. We were all doctors now and the rapid dispersal began. Internship was a baptism of fire. Onerous on-calls and busy schedules filled our days and nights. I was then working in Kurunegala. There were social gatherings and dances at the Upper and Lower Clubs. Those were a magnet for the hardworking interns. With my two left feet I was never going to set the dance floor on fire but enjoyed the drink and the camaraderie of those lavish events. Many parties were held in the House Officers Quarters with much singing and dancing. By 1968  the beat had died down to the music of the Beatles- now more subdued, Englebert Humperdink and Tom Jones.

After emigrating to the UK, family and career took precedence and dancing went on the back-burner. There were parties and dances in hospital during Christmas and on special occasions when it was mostly sedate and proper. However my love of music remained strong as ever. With the passage of years classical music became my first love. London is the Mecca for music lovers. Now I live 20 minutes walk from the Royal Academy of Music and easy striking distance of the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Festival Hall. These venues have classical music events everyday. Music now fills my life and I have no words to describe the peace and contentment I feel.

Since its origins in 15^th Century Italy, Ballet has captured the imagination of audiences worldwide. Breath-taking choreography and graceful movements make it so pleasing to watch. I see most ballets on TV but see some of them live in London. Rudolph Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn are recognised as the best dances of the 20^th century. Much has been written about their sad lives and their tragic deaths away from the spotlight. The Opera is not for everyone. Much of the old operas are in Italian and the stories are hard to follow. They require much homework to read up about the story. Operas of Puccini and Verdi are popular for their fine music. Georges Bizet’s “The Pearl Fishers” is set in ancient Ceylon. Although not as famous as “Carmen” which he wrote 10 years later I like it for its connection to my homeland.

Retirement gave me the time to travel the world. One of the best trips was to South America. Watching the Tango danced by professionals in El Viejo Almacén in Buenos Aires was simply a magical experience. The Tango is a mesmerizingly beautiful dance. Its elaborate movements relate a story. The tango music is a mix of Spanish, African and South American rhythms that became popular in the 19^th century. This music and the dance initially began in brothels and its movements show the titillations of the ladies and the fire in the belly of their clients. Soon the Tango caught the imaginations of the people and  began to be accepted by high society in Buenos Aires.

Despite the 42 years in exile my love for Sri Lankan music hasn’t left me. Listening to the old music from back home is always an emotional journey and a reminder of those places and the people. The music of Sunil Santha, Chitra and Somapala from my childood days in Nugegoda.  CT Fernando, Sanath Nandasiri, Amaradeva and Victor Ratnayake from those later years will always be with me. How can I ever forget the ubiquitous Hindi music that was ever present in the  tea boutiques and shops all over Colombo. I still own a fine collection of Lata Mangheskar, Mohammed Rafi and Asha Bhosle songs to remind me of those years in Sri Lanka.  I was an avid filmgoer in my youth and saw many of the Sinhala films right from the old BAW Jayamanne’s “Broken Promise” and “Kela Handa” to the later films of Lester James Peiris. Their music have a special appeal and a place in my memory. Rukmani Devi and Mohideen Beig featured prominently in those films with their memorable songs. Their haunting melodies and the poignant lyrics will always remain with me. Many of the old favourites have been revived by younger singers with a faster beat and modern instruments. I love these new versions which have instilled life into the old.

 Baila entered our mainstream culture when the likes of Wally Bastian, Patrick Denipitiya, MS Fernando and others made it popular by their live performances on stage and on radio. This music had tremendous appeal with its pulsating beat which is an invitation to dance. The love for baila with the lively music and the rhythmic dancing is a constant reminder of my medical student days. In the Faculty there were events held in the Common Room in the evenings when the booze flowed freely and music filled the air. I recall JC Fernando singing and playing his guitar with students dancing around him. RL Thambirajah singing “Come and see the wild west show” was a regular feature and was so well received. The final year trip was a journey full of wonderful memories and the final fling of an incredible 5 years.

Music and dance have been a large part of my life. It has given me immense pleasure and continues to do so today.

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All by myself - a musical composition

All by myself - a musical composition by Mahendra with lyrics based on the poem "Tears" by Polish Poet Magdalena Podobinska.

Language humour

Language Humour

The places where I’ve been
I like visiting unusual places and I learnt a lot in the process.
Recently I was in Teresting. Many people gathered round me to listen to me
I have been in Quiring where people were very happy to answer questions.
When I was in Trepid, nothing seemed to bother me!
I was once in Fant. We have to have been there at least once or we would never grow up.
But then, I was in Cap Able and there you need a lot of help.
I have been in Solvent, I’ll never advise anyone to go there.
And when I was in Coherent, the gibberish I spoke there!
Recently I dreamt I was in Ferior, and got up feeling glad it wasn’t real.
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I have also been in Dolent, where I could pass a lazy time.
Oh yes! When I was in Visible, no one seemed to notice me.
Same as when I was in Distinct, people just peered at me!
A few times I have been in Dulgen, truly easy-going in many ways.
Another time, I was on Tenter-Hooks in a place called Restless near the edge of Reason, but I calmed down by the time I left.
I was in Ade Quat ending a phase of depleted resources. Beware, don’t go there!
I was in Consol Able to face my problems when my best friend immigrated.
I was in Diffe Rent at a time I had many problems. But I returned more motivated.
But when I was in Ter fer in ghost territory, I learnt a few lessons in human relationships.
I have again been in Coherent. There, I had had one drink too many.
Once I was in Continent of Water Works. I didn’t like it at all. So cold and wet!
3
I had in Nertia, to do a vital assignment but clearly lost the plot.
I was in Viting, dressed in a bikini. I got unwanted attention!
I was in Can de Scent. Someone angered me. I hear it is a common occurrence there.
I have been at Logger Heads. You can’t do it alone.
You need someone to be with.
Then I have been in Vent. I’ve always wanted to be. Now I am back with two new projects!
I have been in Consist entering an area where one could be sure of nothing.
When I was in Tuit I ventured into Holy territory. You could get a march over your counterpart if you are there.
I was in the Dol Drums in Melan Cholia. Nothing could cheer me up, there.
4
Finally I was in Vincible. It was great to know I could reach it!

The Story of Ceylon Stamps

The Story  of Ceylon Stamps – Vimal Dias

The first Ceylon stamp was issued on 1st April 1857 and is listed as SG # 1 in Staley Gibbons Stamp Catalogue. It was issued 17 years after Britain issued the first postage stamp in the world in 1840. SG 1 of Ceylon was a 6d stamp, whereas the first postage stamp of Britain was the Penny Black, 1d in value.  Why the Colonial Government of Ceylon decided to issue a 6d stamp as the first stamp is unknown. However, Ceylon got a One Penny 1d. a blue colored stamp a few months later in 1857.

A.            Stamps Issued During the Reign of Queen Victoria

Postage stamps issued during the reign of Queen Victoria spanned a period of 46 years, from 1857 to  1903. Postage stamps bearing Queen Victoria, basically fall in to 3 key categories. These are;

1.)           Stamps denominated in Pence and Shillings Issued in imperforated form, where individual stamps had to be cut from sheets using a pair of scissors. Stamps with clear margins on all 4 sides are quite rare and they usually carry a premium. The number of stamps issued during this period is limited and spans from SG 1 to SG 17.

2.)           In year 1858, Ceylon stamps denominated in Pence and Shillings were issued in perforated form which made it easier to tear off individual stamps from sheets. However, perforations of those days were very rough, because the number of perforations per inch were very low compared with modern stamps. Hence, stamps of this era often had missing perforations, because they  couldn’t be cleanly torn from a sheet. This is normal for stamps of this age.

3.)           The third era is characterized by stamps issued in Rupees and Cents. This era started in 1872 and continued until the death of Queen Victoria.   Stamps in this era starts from SG 121 to 264. Since a lot of stamps were printed and used during this period, many stamps from this period are still quite common and inexpensive compared to stamps issued during first and second eras.         

Stamps issued during the first and second eras (in Pence and Shillings) are extremely rare and very expensive, as these stamps are now well over 160 years old. Value of stamps like any other item depends on supply and demand. However, the supply of these stamps have dwindled considerably over time, due to destruction and loss of stamps over the years. Only a few currently remain among a handful of collectors and dealers who have taken the trouble to preserve these valuable stamps. Since most of the Ceylon stamps have been held in Sri Lanka under hot and humid conditions, it has also become very difficult to find stamps in good condition.      

It is also interesting to note that all stamps issued during era 1 and 2 were printed in a single color. Perhaps printing technology at that time didn’t support multiple color printing. However, in era 3 (Queen Victoria stamps issued in Rupees and Cents) stamps were printed in 2 colors, making them nicer but still  depicting the face of Queen Victoria.

Queen Victoria stamps issued in era 3 were often overprinted to change the value of a stamp. Perhaps they were out of stock of given denomination and therefore stamps having high stock levels were overprinted in black with a new denomination. As per Stanley Gibbons Catalogue, they were overprinted locally at the Government Printers in Colombo. Some of these overprinted stamps are very rare, but one needs to be careful about fakes too.      

Stamps issued during the 19th century in Ceylon as well as in most other countries were definitive stamps. The practice of issuing commemorative stamps came later in Britain during the 20th century and much later to British Colonies. Definitive stamps were used for a much longer period of time and hence they usually became very common as large numbers were issued. On the other hand, commemorative stamps were issued to commemorate a specific event and lasted only for a short period and hence numbers issued were much smaller.  

Victorian stamps of Ceylon have to be carefully studied as there are many varieties of a given stamp based on the following key factors that influence its value.

-              Type of paper on which it is printed. eg. On normal, bluish, yellowish or on chalky paper etc. All these variations are listed in the SG catalogue.  

-              Water mark. eg. No water mark, inverted water mark & sideways etc.

-              Imperforated or perforated. It was very common for a given stamp to come with different perforation counts, making some very rare. Hence, it pays to always check the perforations of a given stamp using a perforation guide.     

-              Number of perforations per inch on the horizontal and vertical sides of the stamp.

-              Mint or used. Mint stamps in unhinged form is very difficult to find as almost all collectors up to around 40 years ago used hinges to stick stamps in their albums. Only later did stock books and mounts replace hinges. So finding unhinged mint stamps from these times would be very difficult.

-              Some stamps were printed using more than one die and hence stamps were printed using 2 or 3 dies. It may be that dies had to be changed after a while because they got worn off. However, the die 1 and die 2 were often not identical as there were slight differences. These differences are listed in the SG catalogue and are easy to identify once you know what they are. Prices quoted vary widely depending on the type of die.      

-              The color of the stamps. It is very common for a given stamp of this era to have been issued in many shades of the same color or in different colors. Correctly identifying the color of a stamp using the Stanley Gibbons Color Guide is therefore most important, as prices could vary so much based on its color.      

As you can see, collecting Ceylon stamps of this era would be quite interesting and also challenging in many ways. If you are going to invest in good stamps, you really need to know what you are buying. Buying stamps in good condition at a discounted catalogue price would be a challenge. For this, the best place to buy these stamps would be in US where the demand for Ceylon stamps would be rather low and it will also be easier to find stamps in good condition due to favorable climatic conditions.    

B.            Stamps Issued During the Reign of King Edward the 7th

The reign of Edward the 7th was relatively short lived, starting from 1903 to 1911, a period of only 8 years. Some of the stamps issued during this era were printed in 2 colors.

C.            Stamps Issued During the Reign of King George the 5th

This period spanned from 1912 to 1935. Early issues of this period mostly depicted the face of King George the 5th , printed in a single color or in 2 colors. There was no significant change in the way stamps were designed and printed compared to the 3rd era of Queen Victoria. However, in 1935 there was a great departure from this tradition of portraying only the head of the king or queen. For the first time, common and key scenic views of the country were portrayed in the form of pictorial stamps in 2 colors. They had the face of the king printed on the top right hand side of these pictorial stamps. This was a refreshing change and these stamps are very beautiful and say a lot about the life and times in Ceylon at that time. In fact, not much of the scenes depicted in here have changed even today.       

D.            Stamps Issued During the Reign of King George the 6th

This period spanned from 1935 to 1948.There were no significant changes worth mentioning in the design and printing of Ceylon stamps during this time. The pictorial stamps of Ceylon issued during the reign of King George the 5th were more or less used with the head of King George the 6th replacing that of KG the 5th.   However, the design and colors of some stamps were changed, notably the addition of the tea plucker on 6c stamp and a change of color on the 5c stamps depicted palm trees and the sea. The reign of King George the 6 suddenly ended in 1952, while his daughter the present Queen of Britain was on safari at Tree Tops in Kenya. He was rather a weak king and a sickling. 

E.            Stamps Issued During the Reign of Queen Elizabeth the 2nd

Queen Elizabeth the 2nd became the Queen of England in 1952. So we didn’t have any stamps under her rule as Ceylon became independent in 1948.

F. Stamps Issued During the Reign of Queen Elizabeth the 2nd

After independence, the Government of Ceylon started issuing postage stamps both definitive and commemoratives under the name of Ceylon. However, from 1972 onwards, the name of the nation was changed from Ceylon to Sri Lanka and this change was reflected in stamps as well. During this time, the frequency of issuing stamps increased and stamps were issued to honor many local hearos. A stamp Bureau was also established under the Post Office to serve local and foreign philatelists. Due to the high rate of issuing stamps during this era, it is rather difficult to maintain a complete collection of stamps of this period. Hence, it would be better to focus on the early issues of Ceylon under the British period.

Virtual Reality. What is it and what are its uses?

Virtual Reality is a computer technology that uses realistic images, sounds and other sensations to  replicate a real environment or an imaginary setting to make the user feel he is really present in the simulated environment so that he sees, hears  and is able to interact with this space.

 

How it is done

It is made possible by the use of a head set incorporating video, sound and other technology using computer science. It owes its availability to the computer age and is one of the most important methods of the 20th century. Two companies, HTC and Valve Corporation, produced it.

Its history

Its concept has been there and used in films in the mid-1900s but it really owes its advancement to the computer age. We can all remember the early ‘infant’ of 3D viewing by View master glasses. With the advent of computer technology the method improved by leaps and bounds but strangely it never ‘took off’ as predicted. However its use is expected to be more and more sought after in the future with the relentless advancement of computer technology and its use in cinema production and games.

Its uses and applications

Its commercial use in films and games for entertainment, and its use in games arcades as found in California are well known. We can also socialise by VR, we can do business, we can have a prior view of, for example, where we shall go on holiday and we can even ‘meet’ our relations on the other side of the world with a realistic effect of them being in the same space as ourselves and with modern equipment even the sensation of touch can be brought into the experience.

In Medicine, it is used in the treatment of pain. Morphine is said to relieve 20% of pain but VR uses scenes of ice and snow to immerse the patient in, so that his or her pain is felt as a cold sensation with immediate and complete relief without the disadvantages of drug therapy.

It can be used in the treatment of drug addiction and phobias where VR is used to put the subject in such an environment that he can imagine a completely different situation, for e.g. a phobia for flying being cured by VR bringing the subject to get into the plane and experiencing safety and comfort and absence of danger. Hence in phobia treatment it is done by repeatedly exposing the patient to the feared situation and showing that no harm takes place. 

It has been used in the training of surgeons where a 360-degree view of the operation is provided by VR thus allowing subject to get a closer and more realistic appreciation of the operation. The fist VR surgery took place in Oxford. Remote control surgery has been performed by VR using a robot doing the surgery in one place and the direction coming from a real surgeon in a remote situation, even another country. For anxiety disorders it is equivalent to seeing a therapist face to face but cheaper. Why has it not been used to a greater extent? It has been the cost to some extent but in 2 to 3 years it is expected to be cheaper and more freely available.  Your smart phone can also deliver it!

Work has been made easier by VR where a person could work from home while feeling he is in the office environment with colleagues giving one the benefit of being in the same space. Thus one can be in two places at once with VR.

It is used in immersive Journalism where VR makes the reporter feel that he is, for instance in a jungle with a bear in front of him and hearing the roar making it more realistic for the reporter and viewer.

The Travel Industry is going to use it to sell e.g. Holidays where the customer is shown the actual place with scenes, sounds and touch e.g. feeling of the breeze on oneself and seeing the sun shine using VR to give him a 360 view plus a physical experience.

What are the disadvantages?

We’ll end up living in a virtual world. The personal touch the eye contact, the feedback are all going to be lost to some extent. The projection however is that it will not have the take up of the level of smart phones. The latter was one and a half billion but VR take up is projected to be in the tens of millions range.  But the potential is great.

It has been used in the present time to give subjects a virtual trip to the past for example to be virtually transported to a Museum of 500 years ago to experience looking at art of that era as if it were happening now.

It is expected that VR, which is a technique of the late 20th century, is about to take off in the next 2 to 3 years!

Sent by Zita Perera Subasinghe

References: Programmes on BBC Radio, Accounts on Wikipedia and other Internet sites.