Monday, November 16, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Sunflower Music Band
In early days in my life, they gave me a lot of fun than anyone else ! Who are they ? That's "Sunflowers".The Best Music Band Of the industry so popular.In early 90's, many of the Sri Lankans, except young and school children, had blamed them without reasons. With their debut album, "Salade", Nonstop , they had make the country rock . The leader of the group was 'Neel Warnakulasuriya', has able to keep his position with many obstacles until now. The heart of the group is 'Nelson Vass', is the leading singer. With them Ivore De Mel(Bass), Earny Peris(guitar), Cristoper(Vocalist), Atula Adikari(Organ), Mahinda Silva (Drum)were others. With the time some of them had to leave the band without quarrels or problems , for their personal purposes. Now, with Sudath Nawala, Noyel Raj,From Drums, The most telented drummer in the country, Roshan Fernando, Anton(Key Board) and Manjula Gamage, Ruwan,.........( Who are others in The Sunflowers ? If you know You can comment here !) , Nelson and Neel, still making new trend in the Sri Lankan Music world.When early days of the "Sunflowers", we were children. Now, some of them are keeping in high positions in the TV, Radio Stations and many more. They are giving many chances for our lovely band these days, can't find any one who blame the "Band", these days. Now, thousand of people has got jobs because of "The Sunflowers" group. Even Singers. Some poor singers in last decades, Have sang to the music of Sun Flowers and in one night, thousands of their CD's have sold and got popular because of The Sunflowers.
I can still remember the day in my school times, About 16 years ago, I think their "Salade" cassettes were much popular era, First I've met them at "New cinema" Matara.When I told some persons that I want to meet them, those people said "NO" , you can't. But, "Sunflowers" leader, Neel ,had seen that incident and told them, "leave them to me", so with Atula Adikari and Nelson Wass.I was able to get their signs for the first time in Matara, and now you can see them for the first time.
Sri Lankan Music Instrument & Sounds
The dance is based on the sounds produced from various instruments. According to ancient traditions there are five instruments known as "pentaorchestra" or "panch thurya nadaya".
The five kinds of instruments being those instruments played by the bare hand such as drums, Instruments played by hand held sticks such as "Thammettama", Instruments played by bare hands and sticks such as "Dawla", Instruments such as bells, Instruments played by blowing wind such as flutes, thumphet (eastern), etc.
The definitions for these types of instruments vary from the definitions of Indian music, as Sri Lankan instrumentalists have their own definitions brought forward from generation to generation.
Sri Lankan Music History
The five kinds of instruments being those instruments played by the bare hand such as drums, Instruments played by hand held sticks such as "Thammettama", Instruments played by bare hands and sticks such as "Dawla", Instruments such as bells, Instruments played by blowing wind such as flutes, thumphet (eastern), etc.
The definitions for these types of instruments vary from the definitions of Indian music, as Sri Lankan instrumentalists have their own definitions brought forward from generation to generation.
Sri Lankan Music History
Our ancestors developed art & sound from nature. This is why cave paintings showed animals and the environment. Music started from imitating the sounds of birds & other wild animals.
The North Indian Music notes of Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Da & Ni were supposed to be the imitations of the sounds of Peacock, Cow, Goat, Tern, Kowula, Horse & Elephant.
Music was not only used for entertainment. They got it involved in their day to day life as well. For example, still ‘Pal Kavi’ a form of Folk poetry used in rural arrears when guarding a farmer’s crops.
Sri Lanka Music
Music of Sri Lanka can be divided in to seven categories as seen today.
1) Traditional folk music of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka had traditional folk music from the beginning of its race, which has been enjoyed and developed under the Buddhist environment.They were used by the ordinary people.
2) Local drama music (Kolam/Nadagam/Noorthy)
Kolam music based on law country tunes and it is not a developed form of music, as tunes were not developed. Limited to very few notes about 3~4 and used by the ordinary people for pleasure and entertainments.
Nadagam music is more developed form of drama influenced from South Indian street drama which was introduced by some South Indian Artists.Phillippu Singho from Negombo in 1824 Performed Harishchandra Nadagama in Hnguranketha which was originally written in Telingu language. Later Maname Sanda kinduru and few others were introduced.
C. Don Bastian of Dehiwala introduced Noorthy firstly by looking at Indian dramas and then John De Silva developed it and did Ramayanaya in 1886.
3) Hindustani classical music (Ragadari Music)
Ravindranath Tagor visited Sri Lanka with a group in 1934 and performed a drama and laid the foundation stone for Sri Pali at Horana and later introduced music, Art and Dancing. His visit to Sri Lanka made a big change and the awareness in the music scene and lot of Sri Lankan started visiting India for higher education.
4) South Indian classical music (Karnataka Music)
This type of Music can be seen in South India and northern part of Sri Lanka and used by the Tamil community.
5) Tamil and Hindustani Film music
Sri Lanka did not produced films and had to export from India during the early periods. Music for films such as Kadawunu Poronduwa, Varadunu Kurumanama, and Angulimala and others too copied from Indian film songs. Rekhawa produced Sir Lester James Peiris was the first Sri Lankan film produced using Sri Lankan music.
6) Western classical music
British wanted to introduce western music to Sri Lanka during their period of rule from 1815.It was a success and soon Sri Lankan were able to learn the piano as it was not that difficult to learn as Indian music.
7) Sinhala light music
Some artist visited India to learn music and later stared introducing light music.Ananda Samarakone was the pioneer of this attempt and and He composed National Anthem too. Then Sunil Santha who also did not stick to Hindustani music introduced light music of his own. Please visit http://www.info.lk/music to listen few of them online.
Nowadays this is the most popular type of music in Sri Lanka and enriched with the influence of folk music, kolam music, Nadagam music, Noorthy music, Film music, Classical music, Western music and others too. Most of the musician in Sri lanka have come out with their own creations and become success in this category of music.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Chandrasena Hettiarachchi
Dese Kathawen
Tika Kalaka Sitan
Amma
Etha Etha Chandramandale
Etha Pawi Giyawe
Kelesaka Kiwath
Tika Kalaka Sitan
Amma
Etha Etha Chandramandale
Etha Pawi Giyawe
Kelesaka Kiwath
Pandith Amaradeva - the maestro in Sinhala Music
This is a tribute to a master musician whose contribution to the music scene in Sri Lanka spanning a period of more than five decades has been an incomparable one. His music has been the most influential force in forging what could be called a truly Sri Lankan music with a unique national character and identity. At a time in the past when Sinhala music was at crossroads, his music provided the necessary direction and infused it with a fresh vigour. From that time onwards his musical creations have captured the hearts of several generations of music lovers, both young and old. It would not be a
n exaggeration to say that hardly a single lover of Sri Lankan music can be found who has not fallen under the spell of the smooth, velvet-like and yet deep and resonant, voice of his. Perhaps his greatness lies in his ability to create a range of emotions in the listener with that richly expressive voice of his which immediately 'transports' the listener to a world of his own. Firmly rooted in the rich musical traditions of the land, Pandit Amaradevas repertoire of musical compositions displays an astonishing variety. For thousands of Sri Lankans living abroad specially, his music has brought nostalgic and often poignant memories of the motherland. This son of the soil is truly a gift of the
n exaggeration to say that hardly a single lover of Sri Lankan music can be found who has not fallen under the spell of the smooth, velvet-like and yet deep and resonant, voice of his. Perhaps his greatness lies in his ability to create a range of emotions in the listener with that richly expressive voice of his which immediately 'transports' the listener to a world of his own. Firmly rooted in the rich musical traditions of the land, Pandit Amaradevas repertoire of musical compositions displays an astonishing variety. For thousands of Sri Lankans living abroad specially, his music has brought nostalgic and often poignant memories of the motherland. This son of the soil is truly a gift of theMusic of Sri Lanka
The music of Sri Lanka originates in cultural traditions deriving from three influences: the religious practices of Buddhism, the aftereffects of Portuguese colonization, and the commercial and historical influence of Indian culture - specifically, Bollywood cinema. The Theravada sect of Buddhism has influenced Sri Lankan Music since Buddhism arrived in Sri Lanka two millennia ago.
Portuguese colonizers arrived centuries after the Buddha, in the mid 1400s, bringing with them cantiga ballads, ukuleles and guitars; as well as African slaves (referred to, historically, as kaffrinhas), who brought with them a style of music now referred to as baila. The people of these two regions, and the musical traditions they brought with them, served to contribute further to the diverse musical roots of modern Sri Lankan music.
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