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| Sunday, 21 March 2004 |
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Drawing inspiration from the wealth of classical Indian music, Pradeep Ratnayake has undoubtedly succeeded in creating a Sri Lankan identity of his instrument, the Sitar. A mastercraftsman his renowned Pradeepanjalee concert series have resulted in crowded houses and standing ovations.
The CD features the spectrum of musicians associated with him in all his performances. They include Harsha Makalanda - piano, Alston Joachim - bass, Piyasara Shilpadhipathi, Wijeratne Ranatunge, Ravibandu Vidyapathi, Shiraaz Nooramith, Chandralal Amarakoon, Shantha Senerath Yapa, Atchuthan Ravindran and Pathmachaly Pathmalathan - percussion, Lakshman Joseph de Saram - violin and Hemapala Perera - flute and guitar. * WIND: The speed and the power of wind captured in music. The percussion instruments of tabla, ghatam, pakawaj and mridangam provide the bass for the sitar and the piano to take off in flight, gathering speed and momentum as they near the end of their journey. * A WINE COLOURED MOON: A slow rocking of the sitar, piano, bass guitar and western drums. The intensity of a moonlit night, the beauty, the keenness, the intoxication - all find expression in the music of four instruments playing in harmony. * HOME SOIL: A garland of folk tunes from Sri Lanka held together by a melody of nostalgia and remembrance. * SPRING: Based on Rag Bihar, connected to the season of Spring, the Western violin and the sitar, backed by the tabla express the joy and exuberance of the season. * FLIGHT OF THE HAWK: Based on a Sri Lankan vannama, this follows the movement of the hawk as it soars and glides through the air. Sri Lankan drums and the bass guitar back the sitar, heard in six simultaneous tracks here, symbolizing the hidden power of the bird. Pradeepanjalee VII sponsored by Niloufer Pieris show cased Pradeep Ratnayake's classical training in sitar and he was accompanied by Ravibandhu Vidyapathi and Chandralal Amarakoon - percussion. 'Roots' is a must on your CD shelf. It proves Pradeep Ratnayake's rare ability to give music lovers a new path of creative appreciation. |
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Now comes a CD of his original compositions which was launched at his
Pradeepanjalee VII held on Saturday March 13. The CD titled 'Roots' also
contains 'The Flight of the Hawk' based on the 'Ukusa Vannama' as well as
his 'Home Soil' an extended composition of three Sri Lankan folk melodies,
which is captivating in its expression.
