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| Sunday, 12 June 2005 |
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Features |  |
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Pandit Amaradeva : A maestro's quest by Chamitha Kuruppu
One day, while passing the bo tree he started to scribble his feelings and within a couple of minutes, young Albert Perera had composed peenamuko kalu gange a song still popular even after forty years. The lad who was later baptised as Amaradeva (Prof. Ediriweera Sarathchandra persuaded him to change his name) has become 'Sri Lanka's music master'. His music reflects a unique synthesis of the country's varied heritage. His songs and his voice are the touchstones of recognition and pleasure for millions of Sri Lankans. By composing the song peenamuko kalu gange young Amaradeva fulfilled the desire to share his feelings with others. Without intention, at the age of eleven he had communicated through music and today maestro Amaradeva believes that music is a powerful medium of communication in addressing collectives. Music is called a universal language. According to the maestro music is indeed a language that attempts to convey meaning, emotion, experience and so on. But whereas other languages employ tools that are concrete, the exponent of the language of music is that which is fluid and intangible. "Words for example convey specific ideas but music suggests elusive states of mind," stresses the maestro. The great author and poet Tolstoy has once said that 'Art is human activity having for its purpose to transmit to others the highest and the best feelings to which man is risen'. Pandit Amaradeva believes that music, which is described as the finest of the fine arts is endowed with the communicative power. "Music is the art of combining sounds with view to beauty of form and expression of emotion" says Sri Lanka's music master. During the discussion, once in a while, the maestro would sing a couple of lines of his popular songs proving his exceptional voice is indeed a rare treat. He sings his own compositions and has developed a style unique to himself. His compositions are rich in melodic quality and variety. Awakening memories, the maestro talks about his teenage years where he fancied playing the violin under the guidance of his father, at the age of seven. At the age of 13 he performed on Radio. He later obtained training in classical music at the Bhathkande Institute of Music in India. Having embarked his musical career in 1947, maestro Amaradeva gained recognition as an innovative and versatile artist at a very young age. In 1948 he worked on indigenous folk music adorned with Indian ragas. The maestro has also experimented with Western harmony and counterpoint and with South Indian and Tamil musical forms. His repertoire of musical compositions, done over a period of 50 years, displays an amazing variety and prolificacy. He has composed music for ballet, theatre, radio and television. He has composed over one thousand songs and performed in many countries such as England, Germany, Italy,France, Switzerland, USA, Canada and Middle East. "We are all born with heart and mind, but there are faculties that need to be cultivated and trained. A trained voice will no doubt win many fans, but if it is accompanied by a cultivated heart and mind, what it conveys abides deep in the sensibilities of the listener," the maestro emphasises. "I do not know if the cultivation of mind and heart was something I consciously attempted. Nor do I know when that striving really began. What I do know is that in the beginning I saw music and engaged with it as a means of soothing my mind." Maestro Amaradeva was honoured with several international accolades including the Ramon Magsysay Award for Excellence, India's prestigious Padma Sri Award and Chevalier de l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the Government of France. He was recently honoured with 'Bhakthi Pranama' by the Japan Foundation together with the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Tokyo at a felicitation ceremony held in Japan. "We have to admit that we are the finest audience of our own work. But, later in my life when I realised that others were enjoying what I was doing and I wanted to create for the world outside of 'self'." The maestro adds that while there is no doubt an element of seeking recognition and wanting to be popular, these things are impediments in the quest to cultivate heart and mind. "What is more important is the feeling of compassion for others. Love, kindness, devotion and especially compassion," he notes. Sharing his views about the present situation of the country's music industry, the maestro stresses that the custodian bodies should take immediate measures to control the present trend and commercialisation of arts. According to him, music could be divided into three categories; folk, popular and art. The present music trend in the country falls to the popular category, which could be described as cancerous if not properly controlled. "There is a limit you could go down and I strongly believe we have reached that stage. So, I think the government especially the Ministry of Cultural Affairs should intervene and control the damage the present generation is causing to the music industry," the maestro points out. "There is a huge difference between sound and noise, between shabda and nada. You can have an entire orchestra at your disposal, the best technology and technicians around and the best lyricist working with you, but if you do not have the discipline, patience and dedication necessary to improve these faculties, you are going to fall short in the long run," he stresses. Pandit Amaradeva is currently busy composing music for Dr. Lester James Pieris' new movie. "Artists never get old. My best creation always comes tomorrow and the very best comes the day after tomorrow," chuckles the maestro. |
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A young boy used to travel daily by train from the North of Kalutara to
the South to attend school. Everyday the train passed the sacred Kalutara Bo
Tree and the lad made it a point to observe the beauty of devotees attired
in white cloth, deeply engrossed in their prayers. 
