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| Sunday,13 November 2005 |
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Happenings / People Harmony - multi cultural Concert by Mahes Perera
A multi cultural concert titles Harmony sponsored by the Royal Norwegian Embassy and directed by Kalasuri Arunthathy Sri Renganathan was held at the Bishop's College Auditorium on Thursday, October 13. The Ambassador of Norway commenting on the event noted that "Music and dance know no borders and no ethnic divides. This festival proves that music and dance can bring people from different groups together to celebrate harmony and to create mutual recognition, respect and understanding. A festival like Harmony does not only inspire a larger understanding in the spectators, it does also provide the artistes with new inspiration, new ideas and new friendships. Trusting that they will continue to seek inspiration from each other.
"Let us unite", said Kalasuri Arunthathy Sri Renganathan, Artistic Director, "by promoting the integration of culture through mutual respect and understanding. A cultural diverse society can avoid discrimination and racial conflict. I am delighted to be associated with Harmony. It has been a pleasure working with maestros and leading artistes of our land. Harmony became a reality with the support of the Ambassador and the officials of the Royal Norwegian Embassy, with whom I have worked as artistic producer many times". The print media for Harmony was ANCL. Sheer delight!
Harmonica players are not in vogue in today's music scene, like say a guitarist or a saxophonist. The instrument is relegated to a yesteryear era. Two names that spring to mind are Larry Adler and Jan Toots Thielemans, the latter courageously keeping the harmonica aloft today in a music scene that has kangarooed in leaps and bounds. So the Parisian Jean Jacques Milteau fondly referred to as JJ has to be congratulated for a fine performance on November 3 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre. The concert was a fitting finale to the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Alliance Francaise in Sri Lanka. Born a few years after World War II Jean Jacques' knowledge and expression of the many rhythms and styles of music, kept you transfixed in your chair. His opener Harper Valley PTA the folk song that became a global hit, set the mood for the evening. With his band - guitarist, bassist and drummer - he literally rocked the Lionel Wendt that evening with his 'rainbow of styles' from driving rock to blues, boogie woogie (he aptly referred to as kochchi music!), whenever he played it, traditional and mellow jazz and an old waltz dedicated to his mother. His swift switching of the blues harps, which were housed in a belt around his waist or in his shirt pockets, made the art of playing the harmonica look so simple, although as I learnt later it needs a lot of dedication and commitment. That he is a virtuoso is no denying. With his fluid technique his music persona was expressed not through pyrotechniques per se but by the selection of the appropriate technique to suit the tune. His skill, speed and phrasing were sheer delight and he shared the blues harp spotlight with a skilled guitarist who was completely in sympathy with his solos. Mention must be made of the young bassist and drummer fitting in comfortably in a music scenario that may not exactly be theirs. Milteau's tours to unexpected places like the North Polar Circle to South Africa, Switzerland to Cuba, the mainland China and many more places, makes him feel as he has said 'lucky to be a busy musician'. But despite all that popularity and adulation Jean Jacques Milteau feels he has a role to play as a citizen and tries his best to share his experience and knowledge with others, which he did on November 3 with the Sri Lankans and we hope he will make a return! - MP Golden oldies Moratuwa style!
Community singing will always be popular with any music lover, and if you are wanting to participate in one such event, then make your tracks 'Down Memory Lane' which will be held on Sunday, November 27 organised by the Moratuwa Arts Forum (MAF). The venue as in previous years will be at Hotel Ranmal, Moratuwa. The organisers headed by Priya Pieris have gone to lengths to make this year's show, sponsored by the Bank of Ceylon, even better than that of last year. A wide selection of 'Golden Oldies' has been selected for this event. More than one hundred songs that will warm the heart's of music lovers will be sung by the participants, the lyrics of which will be contained in an attractively laid out song book. This will be given free of charge at the gate to each ticket holder. The show will commence at 6.30 p.m. come rain or shine. So be there early to catch the show from its first note. The Moratuwa Arts Forum comprising a large membership of professional artistes from Moratuwa is committed to foster arts and promote and develop young talent in Moratuwa and as such this event 'Down Memory Lane' is a fund raiser to help the Forum make fruitful its objectives. |
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