Sinhala Music at its best

"Ye, Ye, Ye," a musical exposition will be held at the Viharamahadevi Open Air Stage on October 29. Open free of charge to the public, it is the brainchild and the fruit of hard labour and determination of Mahinda K. Premasiri.

The significance of 'Ye, Ye, Ye'? "It's not from any language, but simply a sound, a rhythm that even a baby will understand," says the script writer. Premasiri is also a much sought after lyricist, having composed at least fifty songs for the local film industry, apart from the numerous compositions for Sinhala music artistes such as Rukantha and Sangeeth.

'Ye, Ye, Ye' will showcase "Sinhala music performed in Western ways." Says Premasiri, "local artistes mostly perform standing still in one place, with no action and show no interest in capturing the attention of the audience." Instead his programme will feature twenty young male artistes specially trained in this new technique of performing.

There will be no dancers as is usual in musical shows but simple, unadorned but captivating music. "There will be a lot of melody," adds Premasiri. The lyrics and music of all the works to be performed were composed by Premasiri himself.

According to Premasiri, Sinhala music must appeal the people of both the village and the city. "You have to make the Western rhythm to suit the village."

"The music will feature a lot of oriental instruments including a lot of oriental drums, but in a Western format."

In perhaps for the first time in local music history, the audience will be treated to bird song through hidden sound systems a few hours before the show commences. "I want the audience to feel like they are truly present in a natural environment, to hear the sounds they otherwise would if not for noise of the traffic."

Towards the total entertainment of the audience, there will be staged special effects to complement each composition presented. Rain, Fire and Wind are just some of the natural environments that the audience will be presented with.

And what is the purpose of this exorbitantly priced, self-funded project? "Sinhala music has lost its former place. I want to make a set of Sinhala songs for the international market. Sinhala has a good rhythm, but there is no international market for Sinhala songs. I'd just like to see Sinhala music for sale in a cd rack in another country."

Premasiri is also set to take 'Ye, Ye, Ye' to Singapore. "Of course it needs to be adapted to suit their environment, but most of the groundwork is already set in place."

Mahinda Premasiri considers 'Ye, Ye, Ye' to be the culmination of 20 years of his experience and research. "I'm doing it all for the audience," he remarks, "I'm not achieving anything for myself from this."

(R.H.)