Music, an all embracing element in life

by Siripathy Jayamaha

According to the dictionary music is a set of sounds emitted by man, birds, beasts, cascading water and the rustling of leaves. Without the gift of hearing, music will surely lose its meaning. Unlike ‘sounds’, music has always been with man and those living in the lower rungs of the evolutionary ladder, gives untold moments of relaxation.

H.G. Wells in his Outlines of World History says, man has not been able to determine the origin of music, because it has been with nature from the beginning of time.

Blowing the conch shell

There are many legends from different countries on its origin. Greek mythology tells us how Pan sighed into reed. He broke the reeds into unequal parts, bound them together. A musical instrument was born.

Imitation

Man imitated the sounds he heard. He realised that he could make high hand low notes. They made music while shouting, in their long drawn groans, sighs and when snoring. It progressed with the passage of time. It became a part of our ancient civilisation.

I think that the most joyful and endearing music is the cry of a new babe. |An entry of a new life into the world, makes all around to erupt in songs and tunes. It was, it is, and will always be so.Music has been with all the inhabitants of the globe, from the beginning of time starting with the animal world, music has at most times been a call of love. The female cicada makes unending music with her wings. A call of love, readily acceded to by the male Raheiya (cicada) which is unable to make music.

The stillness of the night is broken by the music provided by some of our four footed and winged friends. All are mating calls. The frogs’, toads’, birds’ and crickets’ calls of love fill the air during their mating seasons.

Humans, however, have no seasons in making these calls. At the beginning we gave these distinctive sounds names.

The scales were the starting point of a new beginning. Man began to sing and harmonised their voices accordingly – a scale with eight notes.

Oldest sound

The drum is the oldest sound in music. Long years ago its musical sounds were used to send messages. It was used in all rituals, then and even now. To the Red Indians, the Incas, Africans and Asians the drum was a part of their life.

In Sri Lanka various types of drums had been used. Their music keeps us enraptured during many a religious pageant, in felicitating guests, at inaugurations in banquets halls and also as an honour to a dead, person. The drum has to compete with the modern drum sets, played with hands and feet.

Countries have their own music and melodies. However, a few melodies or tunes are common. Be it our own – Doi Doi-doiya baba “ara-row-ari-raro”, or the internationally popular Schubert's lullaby and Brahms lullaby, they all have the same soothing music that makes a babe to visit the dreamland. Music denoting fear, suspense and humour, are almost the same in all countries.

Music has always been associated with religion. The conch shells, flutes, and many types of drums have been used at processions. The soothing verses of Pirith uttered by a Bhikkhu, the Gregorian church music, hymns sung with words and tunes set according to the occasion, the Nagasalam and bells heard in the Kovil and the melodious voice of the Imam calling the faithful to prayer from the minaret are calls for humans to devoutly proclaim their faith in what they believe most soothingly.

All the sacred books have been written to be read melodiously. Music has always been a lovely partner in the writing of the Holy Scriptures.

Marriage

Music is necessary when a young couple is united in marriage. The Ashtaka, the Jayamangala Gathas, Lohengrins wedding march as the bride enters the sanctum with her father. Then Mendelssons wedding march when the new couple walk proudly among their kith and kin. All this is music most heart-warming with tunes so very appropriate to the occasion. Have you ever thought about the two ‘goodbye’ songs – sun after the wedding Kedelle un Kurulla of Mignonne and Ratharang Duwe of Carlo Fonseka – so very heartwarming pieces of music in keeping with the words.

The musical groups will keep the music hungry world in raptures. Our ‘Viridu’ and also Villupattu of South India entertain us in halls and buses with the impromptu of lyrics, sung by professionals.

They say that music is Africa and Africa is music. The lovely bass voices of males and the cherubic high voices of females, never need any accompaniment. Speaking of music reminds us of the Chinese. When we were in China, we sang Dhanno Budunge and Konda Namagena. The Chinese were busy jotting down some words and numbers.

They hummed the two tunes after listening to them just twice. Music accompanies demonstration and sporting events in trains and buses. We hear non-stop music.

We cannot forget the musical giants such as Devasuriyasena, C.T., Chitra and Somapala, M.S., Jothi, Amaradeva and Victor. Then there were Belafonte, Louis Armstrong, Pat Boone, Elvis Presley, Englebert, Mario Lanza, Bill Haley and Jim Reeves in the Western musical world.

Orchestra

A group of musicians form an orchestra. Can we ever forget the musical scores of Vishwanath Ramurthi, Shankar Jaikishan, Naushad or Rocksamy? Fr. Marcelline Jayakody's music became very popular. His musical scores for Rekawa still lingers on.

The loud trumpet heralds the entry of the victorious elite. It has been played by an individual or a group dating back to the Roman emperors.

Then comes the bugle played singly or a group. It is music that announces a sad event, such as when a comrade in arms is laid to rest. Also music is played when the country's flag is lowered at sun-down.

Relaxation

Music brings relaxation to the sick and weary. It may bring back fond memories.

At times our domestic animal friends give ear to soothing music. When Bridge on the River Kwai was being shot in Ceylon in the 1950s, David Lean was looking for a theme tune.

Then one of local youth who was an extra in the marching scene had hummed “Colonel Bogey March”. The film won an Oscar award.

Then comes a country's National Anthem. Be it the fiery Lamassaile of France.

The international or Sri Lanka Matha, music gives us a feeling of patriotism. Six decades ago, the London Philharmonic Orchestra was here. A hangar at the Ratmalana Airport was the venue.

At the end of the first performance, as was the custom, the orchestra played our National Anthem. Ninety-six artistes played the anthem.

There were applause and tears. Maestro Ananda Samarakoon too would have cried with you.

It was William Shakespeare who said, ‘Music is the food of love'. Nobody will disagree with his statement.