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| Sunday, 30 April 2006 |
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Music of a
maestro
by Aditha Dissanayake
"If I say ten O clock, I mean ten O'clock" said Anil Mihiripenna and kept his word to the last second. As the chimes of the clock faded into silence on Monday morning I begin my struggle to understand the intricacies of composing music for forty-five raga for different instruments like the violin, sitar, esraj, flute, saroj and the guitar from one of the most talented oriental musicians in our country Anil Mihiripenna. "I am Mihiripenna, and he is Mihiripanna". This, says Anil is the difference between his brother and him - he writes his name with an e in the middle while his brother Dr. Basil Mihiripanna writes it with an a. This difference apart, both are artists who have won international acclaim for their contributions to the field of music and dance. Recalling how he and his brother had performed his composition called 'The Peacock Dance' in Nebaraska Anil Mihiripenna says "Prof. Robert Mirror, who was in the audience was so impressed by the show he invited me to write the score for the Nebraska Symphony Orchestra which consisted of 150 members". Having graduated from the Vishva Bharati University, India, better known as Shanthinikethan, he has studied under the great Esraj Maestros Ashish Chandra Benerji, learnt the Flute from Pandit Gowr Goswamy and Vocal music from Pandit Jamini Kantha Chakrawarthi and was conferred Master of Arts (Musicology) by the Open International University (U.S.A.) in May 2004. Talking about the education of instrumental music in Sri Lanka Mihiripenna says, "There is a dearth in Sri Lanka for instrumental compositions. Many books are written on vocal music, and at exams students render compositions for vocal music which is not correct because a song should be sung and not be played". To assist teachers and students to come to grips with the composition of North Indian instrumental music, he has released a book titled 'New Compositions for North Indian Instrumental Music' which is unique, as it features compositions for several instruments such as the sitar, the flute and the esraj within its covers. In addition to the book he has also launched a CD called Sangeeth Bhavana to sooth troubled, over-stressed minds. Having travelled on concert tours in the United States of America , Hong Kong , Taiwan , and Singapore he makes visits to India regularly as a visiting examiner. A visiting lecturer at the University of Kelaniya, Mihiripenna is the founder of Sharada Kala Nikethanaya, an institution that propagates and popularizes Oriental classical music in Sri Lanka. He has also been conferred honorary citizenship by the governor of Nebraska, U.S.A. The haunting notes that flow from his flute is ample evidence to his talents and experience in his chosen field. His music would charm anyone regardless of whether they have a musical ear or not n |
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