With Chamikara Weerasinghe IN TUNE SATURDAY,SEPTEMBER 5,2009 DN Symphony Orchestra of presents Classics in Harmony today Abeysekera said about music fans and oriental the concert on being asked fans. ” about the the concert Victor Ratnayaka will whether it be a fusion of sing a set of six songs at Western classical music the Classics in harmony and oriental music, it will concert. Unlike in Western not be a concert of fusion classical music , North of the two great traditions. Indian classical music “ In order to produce recognise voice to be pre- fusion, the two styles have dominant to fashion a Rag. to be blended to produce a According to Sangeeth different sound,” he Ratnakara by Pandit Sar- explained and added ,” nagadeva, music is defined Classics in Harmony will as the combination of vocal stand to complement the President, Sri Lankan Sym- music, instrumental music phony Orchestra, Prof. Ajith two music traditions rather and dance. Nanda Malini Abeysekera than creating “fusion”. It Even without Dance and will preserve the orchestral ern classical music fans to classical music and vice Instrumental music , vocal color of both Western and appreciate Western classi- versa. Singers like Victor music alone can be called Eastern traditions ,” he cal music,” he said. Ratnayaka, Nanda Malini, music. A performer said. ”We do not want to “The concert will ‘not’ W.D.Amaradewa and T.M, should not forget that create a monstrous hybrid be a pop show and the Jayaratna are high caliber voice is predominant in the as such by fusing the two,” experience will be be total- vocalists. With concerts tradition of North Indian Violinist,composer and conductor Ananda Dabare he added. ly different because the like this we hope to expose classical music. All the Sinhala songs Western orchestra will not these high calber perform- Ananda Dabare , who CHAMIKARA WEERASINGHE The president of Sri have been arranged for become a pop orchestra by ers to Western orchestral has arranged music for the Lankan Symphony voice and orchestra by any means although from music so that they can set of oriental songs that he integrity of dia- Orchestra , Prof. Ajith internationally acclaimed recent times the Sympho- appreciate the values of are to be sung by Victor tonic harmony in Abeysekera on Thursday violinist Ananda Dabare. ny Orchestra of Sri Lanka Western classical music, and Nanda at the concert T Western classical said in an interview with The Orchestra will per- has been changing its pro- she said. had been familiar with ori- music will complement the the “In Tune” that the con- form Overtures of two clas- file from being a purely There will be fifty to ental classical music before patterns of sweet sounds cert will be a novel experi- sical Western Operas, by high classical orchestra to sixty musicians playing in he joined the world of or swaras that produce ence for both Sinhala and Johann Strauss’ “Die Fled- being versatile, “ he said. the Symphony Orchestra. Western classical music. mind pleasing sounds also Western classical music ermaus” and MikhailGlik- As pointed out by Shamini On being asked to He learned Western music known as Rags in Indian lovers. Prof. Abeysekera ka’s “ Ruslan and Ludmil- Wettimuni, of the board of describe what could this in Russia at Moscow State Singer and composer Victor Ratnayaka classical music tradition, said, the concert will fea- la” ”We expect the concert governors of the Orchestra mean to all Sri Lankan Conservatory. when Symphony Orches- ture Sinhala oriental songs to be an eye opener for of , they want to expose music fans, Prof. Abeysek- Vocal recitals by Victor he most of his song have Thread”) , Udangu Liyan tra of Sri Lanka presents a that are based on Sri Western classical music those classical music lovers era said , “The concert will Ratnayaka appeal to the been composed by the (“ the Arrogant Maiden”) classical music concert this Lankan folk and Indian fans to appreciate Eastern who listen to serious music serve as a cultural bridge most discerning of music country’s top lyricists. and “Mihi Mandale” have evening (September 05) at classical music. classical music and East- of the orient to Western that joins local Western fans to the man on the Nanda Malini , also become much appreciated the Ladies” College Hall, street. He is one of the the regarded as the emblem of by by alll music lovers in , from 7 pm. most acclaimed radio Sri Lankan identity in Sin- the country. Nanda Malini The concert titled “ Clas- Unlike in Western classical music, North Indian artiste and one of Sri hala Song, too has songs with career spaning over sics In Harmony “ will fea- classical music recognizes voice to be predominant. Lanka’s top playback with very powerful lyrical three decades of singing , ture iconic figures of orien- singers of the past two content and versatile melo- has made over 50 solo tal classical music in Sri Even without Dance and Instrumental music, decades. Lyrical content is dious aspects. Song such albums and is one of the Lanka Victor Ratnayaka vocal music alone can be called music one of the significant fea- as “Ran Kenden Benda” most respected playback and Nanda Malini. tures of Victor’s music for (“Entwined with a Golden singers of the Sinhala film. Westlife- Miss you Westlife Sunil’s splendour Intro: D A Bm G A G n the tradition of British zone’s manager, took inter- entered the U.K. charts at I can’t sleep, I just can’t breathe and Irish boy bands like est in them. number one, a feat they D G I Take That and Boyzone This made room in the replicated with “Seasons in in Lankan music when your shadow is all over me, baby comes Dublin’s Westlife, a band for Byrne and McFad- the Sun” and “Swear It A G quintet consisting of Shane den; Walsh also introduced Again” in 2000. WIJITHA NAKKAWITA don’t wanna be a fool in your eyes Filan, Nicky Byrne,Bryan Westlife to Boyzone vocalist Their self-titled debut Bm G McFadden, Mark Feehily, and solo artist Ronan Keat- album met with similar cause what we had was built on lies and Kian Egan. Filan, Egan, ing, who became the chart-topping success and he Independent Bm A D and Feehily were among the group’s co-manager shortly quickly went platinum in Television Network And when our love seems to fade away group’s six founding mem- after they cemented their their homeland. T recently staged a G A bers, but the other half of recording contract. The Westlife was released in grand musical concert listen to me hear what I say the group was dispatched group’s first single, 1999’s the U.S. by Arista Records Sunilsara Sirisara at the Chorus when Louis Walsh, Boy- “Flying Without Wings,” in early 2000. BMICH and had it telecast D on ITN a week later featur- I don’t wanna feel ing the music and songs of A yesteryear’s great music the way that I do composer, lyricist, Sunil Bm Santha, who died without I just wanna be fulfilling his life’s promise G on a pathetic turn of events right here with you that made him merely exist D in a society that was not I don’t wanna see grateful for the singular ser- A vice of complete dedication see us apart he rendered for the people Bm G of his times and later gener- I just wanna say it straight from my heart ations. I miss you The concert brought back A G nostalgic years from the What would it take for you to see 1940s and ‘50s when Sunil indigenous music? His ple that an Indian musician D G Santha among the contem- compositions touched the was not a competent judge to make you understand that I’ll always believe porary musicians devoted inner strings of the Sri of the Sri Lankan singers A G his whole life for the devel- Lankan culture and ethos who were not similar to the you and I can make it through opment of a Sri Lankan especially the sylvan fresh- North Indian singers. D G musical tradition like Anan- ness of his people’s style of Although Ratnajankar was and I still know I can’t get over you da Samarakoon who firmly life and the immensity of once Sunil’s teacher he Bm A D believed that both the North his perception of the beauty made his stand not only for And when our love seems to fade away Westlife promise Indian Ragadhari Music or and elegance of our country himself but for the cause he G A the South Indian Karnataka captured so well. His rap- espoused. listen to me hear what I say Music did not harmonize porteur embraced the Thereafter Radio Ceylon Chorus with the Sri Lankan culture nuances of Sinhala folk refused to allow Sunil to A G D G 2x ‘strongest album yet’ and civilization. music, Bengali sing and some people in the Bm A D Therefore these two espe- that has several similarities radio station started dam- Cause when our love always fades away cially Sunil Santha worked to ours and also some per- aging his records that were G A estlife have exciting. We took a deci- be working with some very hard to after his gradu- centage of western music on discs at the time and listen to me hear what I say promised that sion that we didn’t want to amazing writers and I’m ation and return home from they stopped playing his Chorus W their upcoming do any covers at all this sure this album is going to Shanthiniketan and His rapporteur songs. Though Sunil D# ninth studio album will be time round and give the bring us back with a bang,” Bhathkande music universi- refused to be auditioned by I don’t wanna feel the group’s strongest to fans 100% new material. Filan added. “We want ties of India to work for the embraced the Ratnajankar during his stu- Bb date. “We know this has to be great up-tempo songs and development of a Sri nuances of Sinhala dent years in India Sunil the way that I do The Irish boyband, who something special because some really strong ballads. Lankan music school blend- folk music, Bengali once won the all India folk B#m have not released any new we have been away for over That’s what we made our ing the positive aspects of folk music that has singing competition. I just wanna be material for two years, a year. I think everyone is name with and that’s what our folk music tradition per- But Sunil refused to G# insisted that they will sur- going to be really surprised we want to do again. haps akin to the path fol- several similarities appeal to higher authorities right here with you prise fans when they return when they hear it.” Guy “The plan is to release lowed by the Russian musi- to ours and also and lived almost a penni- D# later this year. Chambers, former Savage the album before Christmas cal genius Tchaikovsky some percentage less life after that though he I don’t wanna see “The album will have no Garden star Darren Hayes and then hit the road for a whose compositions greatly of western music could have commercialized Bb covers at all - we want it to and Ryan Tedder, who tour next year. absorbed Russian folk his music. see us apart be our strongest ever,” penned Leona Lewis’s “Westlife have sold over music. though in a more When he died at the age B#m G# Shane Filan told the *Irish ‘Bleeding Love”are all 40 million copies of their The singers who joined subtle infusion 66 of a heart attack he had I just wanna say it straight from my heart Daily Mirror.”We’re work- rumoured to have con- nine previous albums,seven the Sunilsara Sirisara were become the victim of an D# ing on it in the studios at tributed material for the of which were bestsellers in Ivor Dennis the only singer though in a more subtle ungrateful and heartless oh baby I miss you I do the minute and it’s really new record. “We’re lucky to the UK. who faithfully followed infusion. Anyhow the con- milieu of mediocrities in Sunil Santha’s style of cert was a journey into the the local music scene music over the years, Victor past, one of immense joy except for a few like Pundit Ratnayake, Nanda Malini, and nostalgia, one of sad- Amaradeva. Still the golden Sunil Edirisinghe, T.M. ness and regret reminiscent era of music that Sunil Jayaratna and Edward of the machinations of cer- brought to a newly indepen- Bonnie Tyler Returns with Jayakody performed Sunil tain bureaucrats and syco- dent nation with its heart in Shantha’s songs as orches- phants who had worked to national resurgence cannot tra of senior musicians destroy Sunil Santha day be simply written off Total Eclipse of the Heart backed them. and night in and out of the though he was made a pen- Yet for those of us the then Radio Ceylon. niless pauper by that same inger Bonnie Tyler 58-year-old said: “I’m Her song has been two hour performance that It began in 1953 when society. For the contempo- is returning to the delighted with this ver- covered by others recreated the best songs Radio Ceylon the predeces- rary music schools and fac- S charts with a new sion of Total Eclipse including Nikki composed and sung by sor to the SLBC decided to ulties of aesthetics owe him version of her 1983 hit andit is wonderful to be French, Westlife, Jan Sunil there was one void, invite Prof Ratnajankar of a deep debt of gratitude Total Eclipse of The working with such a Wayne and Tori the absence of the depth India to audition all the that should research on Heart, which will feature great choir as Only Amos. Wednesday, 02 and beauty of the golden singers of the radio station Sunil’s music and honour Only Men Aloud. The Men Aloud.” September 2009 voice of Sunil. What was but Sunil Santha refused to him even now at this late the stamp Sunil put on the be auditioned on the princi- hour. =