Guitar Fest - 2015:

Developing a cultured society thru music

by Sureshni Pilapitiya

Engelbert Humperdinck sang about playing ten guitars, but this is a festival with more than ten guitars and different guitar styles. The Guitar Association of Sri Lanka (GASL), an organisation registered under the Cultural Department, plans to hold the “Guitar Fest - 2015” on January 24, 2015 at the Navarangahala, Colombo 7.

There will be two repeat shows on January 25 at the E.O.E. Pereira Theatre, University of Peradeniya and on January 26 at the Town Hall, Kurunegala.

The festival will showcase all the guitar styles of the best guitarists in Sri Lanka. To add more colour to the festival, a few foreign guitarists will also perform at the festival.

In an interview with the Montage the GASL Secretary, Iqbal Mohommed, explained the purpose of the festival.

The main objective of the festival is to expose more young people to different guitar styles such as classical, flamenco, Hawaiian, Rock and Metal. Another objective is to popularise music and guitar playing among the youth.

Excerpts:

Question: Is guitar music relevant to Sri Lanka?

Answer : There is a cultural diversity in Sri Lanka. There are elements of Sri Lankan styles as well.

Q: Does it include all the guitar styles such as rock, classical, rhythm and blues and heavy metal?

A: Yes. Each style will get 10 minutes’ performance.

It will be individuals with different styles. They should have some standard in their performance individually and groupwise.

Q: Will there be any foreign guitarists at the festival?

A: Definitely. At the 2013 festival there was a Japanese guitarist. In 2014 we had a Vietnamese guitarist. He was sponsored by the Vietnamese Embassy.

We have invited many foreign guitarists through Embassies. Some have already accepted our invitation. Others are unable to come due to the lack of sponsorship.

Commitment

Q: What goes to make a good guitarist ?

A: It is your lifetime commitment to music, a love and passion for music. It is an approach, whether you're identifying different thoughts with the music.

The more mature the person the more melodious the music becomes. You have to express your feelings through music.

Q: Do you think all guitar techniques are taught in guitar classes in Sri Lanka?

A: You can learn something from everyone, it is up to the individual to pursue further. At the Guitar Festival you will see all the guitar styles of leading guitarists in Sri Lanka.

Q: There are so many Sri Lankan rock bands, but they don't seem to exist, except for a few. Why?

A: The lack of concerts is due to financial constraints. Most local bands try to imitate foreign bands. Some bands try to imitate songs such as “Hotel California”.

People think it's a good band. But when the song gets familiar the bands fade off. Even in rock it's the same.

Sri Lankan artistes should be given more recognition and they should be appreciated for what they are doing.

They have to be supported. There is no need to popularise musical instruments and musicians. There is no place for good guitarists.

Controversial

If you belong to a rock band or a heavy metal band, you should be able to get your passports to leave the country!

Q: That sounds rather controversial. Why do you say that?

A: They have to play in hotels as a start. The local audience is not getting a chance to like this kind of music and only a few musicians are getting popularised.

This happens, not only in guitar, but also in any music field.

Q: What's the type of guitar a beginner should buy?

A: There are two types of guitars. The acoustic has steel strings and the classical has nylon strings. The classical guitar helps to develop right and left hand techniques of the beginner. The acoustic and classical have a box, and it helps to amplify the sound.

Q: Is it possible to move to an electric guitar after playing the classical?

A: Of course yes. Fingering is the same in the electric guitar, but the sound will be amplified.

Q: Some people buy second hand guitars when they start to learn the guitar. Is that practical?

A: In Sri Lanka, people buy second-hand guitars because of financial difficulties. Top brands sell guitars at exorbitant prices. But it's better to buy a new guitar. The mahogany is exported from Sri Lanka to other countries for making guitars which is a big industry. Whatever you play you have to be familiar with the instrument because you communicate with it.

Q: What's the wood used to make guitars?

A: There are different types of wood used for guitars. For the side boards it's mahogany, for the fret board it's ebony, The soundboard is made of spruce or rosewood. In Madagascar rosewood is banned because the trees have been chopped off to make guitars.

Therefore, spruce is used. At present there are Chinese and Japanese guitars made of plywood and in no time the wood gets warmed.

There is no contribution to develop the guitar music industry in Sri Lanka. Facilities should be given to make guitars locally. The country will also get an income.

Basics

Q: Is there a time period to learn the basics of a guitar?

A: The more you spend time the more you learn. It can be for a life time. There is no time limit.

Q: Tell us about your association?

A: Through our Association we help those who are involved in guitar manufacturing. Local products should be promoted.

Q: Have you been playing in bands, being a guitarist yourself?

A: I joined the Victor Hara music band in Kandy as a vocalist in 1982. Watching others playing the guitar, I also learnt how to play it. In that way I have been playing the guitar for 30 years. Now I play as an individual and I like to develop the trova style technique.

It's a South American -Cuban style. The song writer and singer are the same. He only uses one guitar. He should be playing the guitar and singing at the same time. But the song should have some meaning. The most famous singer of this band is Victor Hara, and the present Cuban singer Silvio Rodriguez.

Best guitarist

Q: Slash of Guns N’ Roses and Eric Clapton of the Yardbirds are considered some of the best guitarists of yesteryear. How do you feel about that?

A: There are no good or bad guitarists. Those who play at that moment are the best guitarists. In Sri Lanka, those who play are the best guitarists. At the Guitar Festival, there is no recorded music. You have to perform.

Q: Are the performers under supervision at the festival ? have you formed any rules and regulations to see if they're playing it for real or just miming?

A: There are restricted sound tracks. In any guitar festival a certain amount of entertainment is required. For some type of guitars you need a melody, such as the Hawaiian guitar.

Sometimes we even use a tabla. With that backing up the player can play the guitar. We make sure at the festival the player gives the best to the audience.

Q: Is the concert open to any upcoming guitarist to show his talents?

A: We will have an audition for those who wish to perform . Only a selected few will get a chance to perform in the cities. This is not a contest. It's going to be an audition by some guitarists of the Association.

Local guitarists

Q: Who are the local guitarists performing at the festival?

A: For classical guitar, it's Jude Peiris, for Flamenco, Dr. Amaranath Ranatunga, for fusion, Anthony Surendra, for rock, Derek Wikramanayake and for bass, Upula Madushanka, Andrew Obeysekere and Tennyson Napoleon for heavy metal.

Rohan Silva contributes with the pedal steel guitar while Prasad Silva plays the Hawaiian guitar. There will be two types of instruments. In addition, the Ukulele, native from Hawaii and the pan - flute which is from South America.

Q: Can people in the selected areas also participate?
A: They are most welcome. The concerts are places where you create friendship.

Q: Who are the well-known members of the Association?
A: Derek Wikramanayake, Andrew Obeysekere and Tennyson Napoleon.

Q: Do you plan to hold more guitar festivals in future?

A: We have three concerts each year, but we will increase the number depending on the availability of the funds and the requirements of the people. We intend to showcase the festival, to make people overcome problems and to make them happy. The concerts will be held free.