Foremost artist appeals for state patronage to foster classical music

Perhaps, the most influential composer, maestro Khemadasa who is famous for his composition of seminal music for 'Thunveniyamaya', advices the nation, especially the state that radical reforms should be brought about in the system of education in order to produce a generation of citizens fit for society and who are international in outlook yet rooted in the ethos of the true Sri Lankanness.

He still considers 'Thunveniyamaya' as the turning point in his musical journey and cherishes the experience of working with the director Dharmasiri Bandaranayake. The music was entirely different from what he composed for 'Goluhadawatha'.

Khemadasa attributes crime escalating at an alarming rate and anti-social activities due to the failure of citizen building owing to the lack of state patronage for fine arts and fostering of classical art with the aim of producing a healthy nation.

Quoting Japanese musicologist Watnebe who introduced Western music into the Japanese system of education said that by now every orchestra has, at least, a Japanese player. Although steep in the traditions, in Japan, only Western music is taught at primary level and that has not made Japanese adopt Western habits and acquire alien behaviours.

Maestro Khemadasa is of the view that Western classical arts, especially music can be localized, integrating Sri Lanka folk recitals into them and adapted to foster Sri Lankan identity in music with an international outlook. He said that the people reject music when the creations became obsolete and when artists repeated their old creations.

'If you do something novel, people appreciate it', he said. As any other forms of art such as novel, drama absorbed and nourished from the knowledge and exposure to universal arts, music should also be allowed to flourish absorbing knowledge and techniques from rich traditions of music.

Khemadasa pleas for a university specialized in Fine Arts and Culture which should be set up and fully sponsored by the state where all forms of art including music, cinema, drama and television studies are taught.

He is of the opinion that such a university should hire foreign expertise in relevant fields and that there will be many lecturers who are willing to impart their knowledge free of charge. Artists should not be subject to harassment and abuse. They should be united to salvage art from the present predicament.