The Police Christmas Carols will come alive at the Police Park on December 23, this year, while in a flashback, there was a time when the music was conducted by the Director of Music ASP Marcus Tissera.
An old boy of Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa, Marcus Tissera joined the Police Department as a sub Inspector in 1981. He followed a one-year course in Military Band mastership under the then Director of Music of the Navy Band, the late Commander D.P. Danwatta at the Gemunu Navy Camp in Welisara. He became an IP in 1988 and CL in 1993 and was promoted as the second Senior Gazette Officer in the Band in 2003.
Music as the saying goes, was an ‘inborn talent’ in Marcus Tissera. From the tender age of nine, he started to learn music and soon mastered the art of playing most of the brass instruments. He now proudly claims, he can play nine instruments and is the only instrumentalist who can do so in Sri Lanka.
He enjoyed teaching music and arranging music for military bands.
In his conversation with the Sunday Observer, he recalls that from 1976 to 1977, a little more than a year, he played the trumpet for the Colombo Symphony Orchestra under the respected conductor Eardley Fonseka. During this period he played for a concert at Ladies’ College and was also in the orchestra when Raymond Adlam conducted the Requiem Mass at the Ramakrishna Hall, Wellawatte.
After he assumed duties as Assistant Band Master in the Police Band in 1981, he enhanced his music career by achieving success at the Military Band Master Course at the Naval Academy of Music at Welisara, under Commander Premalal Danwatte and subsequently, obtained his Licentiate as a Military Band Conductor from the Academy.
Mention must be made that in the Music Level Performance in Practical he gained success in playing the trumpet solo in Haydu’s Concerto, the Bass solo in Rack Time, the Euphonium solo in the piece Romancing in F minor, and the Alto Saxophone solo Cafeteria. His success at the examination resulted in him being the Band Master of the Police Band from 1984.
Apart from the many appearances of the Police Band at various events, Marcus Tissera also performed over the Rupavahini, and during his career as Second Band Master and ASP, he became the Director of Music of the Police Band.
“In my journey of success I wish to thank SDIG Gamini Gunawardena, then Commandant Field Force Headquarters and DIG Lancelot Perera, then Director of Music, who helped me in many ways. I’m grateful for their valuable advice and assistance”, says Marcus Tissera.
A dedicated officer, and a strict disciplinarian, before his retirement in 2008 Marcus Tissera won many medals for his service, including the Good Conduct Medal, The Long Service Medal, 50th Independence Medal, First Aid Medal, J.R. Jayewardene Samaru Padavi Praptha Medal and the 125th Police Anniversary Medal.
After his retirement, the urge to be active saw Tissera join the Charith Group of Companies as a Director. His wife too at that time was a Director, and together they formed a beat and dance band, ‘Black Gold Rhythmians’.
His wife, Princy Maureen was a Grade 8 Theory of Music and Practical Piano Music of the Trinity College of Music, London and the Royal School of Music London, Western Music Teacher.
I travelled to Bangkok, Singapore, Malaysia, Nothumbria University in UK, Scotland, Edinbourough and Buckingham Palace with my wife. They are memories I treasure, because after our return my wife passed away, but I still have dealings with the Charith Group of Companies.”
The Black Gold Rhythmians is a dance band as well as a beat band.
The dance band comprises four saxes, two trombones, two trumpets, bass guitar and keyboards with three vocalists – two females and one male. The band has a wide repertoire, including waltzes, foxtrots, strict tempo music and yesteryear favourites. The beat band on the other hand is more contemporary in repertoire and plays the music of Abba, Bee Gees, Simon & Garfunkel, Bossas and popular Sinhala songs and music.