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| Sunday, 14 September 2003 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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The Sinhalese people's music by V. Basnayake
The thoughtful account by Mr. O. D. Sooriyapala of Carlo Fonseka's lecture-demonstration on Christian influences on Sinhala modern music (Sunday Observer September 7) has the provocative title What is 'Sinhala music'? I would like to respond to it by modifying the term Sinhala music - to Sinhalese people's music, and by offering a tentative classification of it. "Sinhalese music" is a controversial title. Is there a 'Sinhala music'? There may be several views in answer to this question. Here are three that I know of. First, Sinhala music is still in the making. Secondly, there is a "Sinhala light music". Thirdly, there is a Sinhala music characterised by Sinhalese lyrics and/or music which could be various.
The first view, that Sinhala music is still in the making, is the position taken by Dr. Usvatte-aratchi (Sunday Island, July 20). He writes: "There was a very small group of musicians who gave their talent and exercised their minds to the development of a Sinhala music drawing on the folk music of the Sinhalese. That music is still in the making. What we have now is a mixture of many things, borrowed from various sources." It is "a hotchpotch of cultures". The second view, that there is a Sinhala light music, is seen in an entry on "The arts of Sri Lanka" in the Internet. The entry has a section on "The music of Sri Lanka". This states that there are "seven categories" of music in Sri Lanka, viz. (1) Traditional folk music; (2) Local drama music (kolam, nadagam, noorthy); (3) Hindustani classical music (ragadari music); (4) South Indian classical music (Karnataka music); (5) Tamil and Hindustani film music; (6) Western classical music; (7) Sinhala light music.
A note on Sinhala light music mentions its origins with Ananda Samarakoone and Sunil Santha, and then goes on to state that "Nowdays, this is the most popular type of music in Sri Lanka and enriched with the influence of folk music, Kolam music, Nadagam music, noorthy music, film music, classical music, western music and others too. Most of the musicians in Sri Lanka have come out with their own creations and become success (ful) in this category of music." I wondered why western pop, in its indigenised forms, and fusion music, are not listed. The third view is one which I myself fancy, but I would prefer to call "Sinhalese people's music". The term "Sinhalese music" would give the impression that it is something which is unique and distinct from other musics such as Indian music or Chinese music or Western music. "Sinhalese people's music" makes no such claim of uniqueness; it simply denotes what Sinhalese people regard as music which suits them and which they use all the time. it is music which is used in traditional Sinhalese ceremonies, with or without words, and in Sinhalese gatherings. Songs with Sinhala words are widely sung by Sinhala people, with music drawn from various sources (Sinhala folk, Western, Indian) and adjusted to go with the words. Not Sinhala music
Thus a mere translation of a western art song with the music exactly as the composer wrote it is not Sinhala music. As Dr. Usvatte-aratchi says "If Franz Schubert's Winterreise were sung in Sinhala it would still remain European music." May I add that indeed even the Sri Lankan Mr. Norman Corea's Lullaby, with its typically western melody and harmony, first written by him with English words and subsequently translated into Sinhala, does not become Sinhala music. But when a Christian hymn is translated into Sinhala and the music sung in a Sinhala way, as is commonly done in Sinhalese church services, it becomes indigenised - it becomes Sinhala music. When Christian passion music is translated into Sinhala and sung as pasang music, it becomes Sinhala music. When Portuguese dance tunes are sung as baila with Sinhalese words with music sung flexibly in a Sinhala way, it becomes indigenised into Sinhala music. Kinds of Sinhalese people's music The classification which I offer here is tentative and based on the degree of relationship to western music. It is an attempt to identify the main categories which a person with an ear used to western music may more readily appreciate. According to this view, currently heard Sinhalese People's Music can be categorised into two main groups: Group A, no relationship to western music, group B, shows relationships with western music, particularly in the use of western chordal (or rarely polyphonic) harmony and relatively simpler rhythms. Group A can be classified into the following sub-groups: Group A1, Basis ancient e.g. temple music with its five kinds of instruments (three kinds of drums, cymbals and oboe) and folksong such as sivpada; A2, drama-based music such as nadagam and nurthi; A3 Ragadhari - and Karnataka-based. Group B, the chord harmony group, can be sub-grouped into B1 tune from the west (e.g. hymns, baila, Spanish music-based); B2 tune composed (e.g. Sunil Santha, pop groups after c 1970; Khemadasa opera). Most of Sinhalese popular music heard on the radio today falls into this B 2 sub-groups. ############ Colombo up in lights
Directed by Delon Weerasinghe, this show is a fund-raising project of the Interact club of Visakha Vidyalaya. A percentage of the profits from this musical will be utilised for the re-construction of Chettikulam Vavuniya Vidyalaya and the Gangodawila Nivathana Nivasaya Orphanage. It has been conceived as an evening of family entertainment and will feature a collection of songs from such favourites as the Sound of Music, Grease, My Fair Lady, Chicago, Moulin Rouge, Annie, Blood Brothers and Mama Mia! ############# Art exhibitions An art exhibition by the former trainees of the Giragama Teacher Training College in Aesthetic Education opened at the Alliance Francaise de Kandy on Sept. 12 and continues till Sept. 19. The theme of the show is "Minissu" (People) which shows and depicts various aspects of human behaviour. The paintings are done in several mediums such as oil, water colours and mixed media. All were done by the trainees while they were studying at the Training College (2001-2003) and it is a result of their team spirit. The artists are Charulatha Jagathchandra, Mauri Thakshala Walisundara, Vidiya Bandara Ekanayaka and Grace Wickramarathne. |
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Almost a hundred past and present Visakhians take the stage to present
Up in Lights, a show that goes on the boards at the Bishop's College
Auditorium from September 19-22.
