OTD in early British television: 6 April 1938
John Wyver writes: Just before 10pm on Wednesday 6 April 1938, a 10-minute broadcast from Alexandra Palace presented Surya Sena and Nelun Devi (above) performing Sinhalese folk songs. The transmission was organised by producer and musicologist Philip Bate, who we have met here before.
Surya Sena and his wife Nelun Devi were important pioneers in the revival of Sri Lankan folk music, and the programme is a further indication of how remarkably eclectic was the mix of musicians featured on early television.
(Before posting a little more about these two musicians, I should say I am holiday in France this week – which is why this post is a day late, and why for the rest of the week I am going to feature reprises of my six favourites from the 120 OTD posts to date.)
The following is draws on a Daily FT article written by Kamani Samarasinghe and published online on 6 April 2024.
Devar Surya Sena was born Herbert Pieris in Sri Lanka in 1899 but was educated in England to become a lawyer… Throughout his student years, music continued to be his main interest… He married Winifred De Silva (the eldest daughter of Dr. Charles de Silva – a famous physician from Galle) [in] 1923, in London. He returned to Ceylon in 1924 and took oaths as an Advocate of the Supreme Court.
He assumed the name of Devar Surva Sena [and] Winifred also changed her name to Nelun Devi. In 1927 he decided to give up his career at the Bar and devoted his life to singing… He was particularly fond of folk music and folk songs sung by the common folk. He proceeded to learn the traditional Sinhalese music and dance traditions that were distinctive to the Sinhala culture.
He travelled around Sri Lanka in search of people who knew traditional folk music. He began to methodically collect and write down varieties of folk songs such as the harvesting and reaping songs, the fisherman’s songs, vannamas, lullabies, love songs, and children’s songs that exemplify the common people’s way of life.
In 1928, he sang English songs, a Sinhala Nadagam song, and a Nepalese folk song called “Rani banai ma” in front of the Duchess of York in London, demonstrating his enthusiasm for different forms of music. He and Nelun Devi toured Europe, America, and Canada, conducting various music concerts. The goal of these tours was to give a common platform for individuals of many races, creeds, and interests to come together…
Surya Sena, who has an insatiable drive to learn music, continued to study Western music, and folk music and travelled to India (1930-1932) to study Indian music… In 1946 he was invited by H.M.V (His Master’s Voice) company to record Sinhalese folk songs in their studio in Hayes, Middlesex… In 1953, he was awarded OBE by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to music…
In 1966 he was appointed vice chairman of the Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation. He helped to make the lives of thousands of fellow beings more cheerful through song and dance. After many dedicated years of service to the nation, he died on 11 November 1981.
Leave a Reply