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| Wednesday, 17 July 2002 |
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by Sangeeth Nipun Sanath Nandasiri, Director, Cultural Affairs
Programs, Ministry of Cultural Affairs
The distinguished book 'Sangeetha Sangeetha' is in fact years beyond my span of life as a music teacher. During my career of over 35 years as a music teacher, I have been called upon on numerous occasions to discuss contents of this book. Such instances, as I recollect, surfaced more and more when I functioned as the Head of the Music Department of the Institute of Aesthetic Studies affiliated to the University of Kelaniya. I am personally aware of the fact that both male and female undergraduates who engaged in research on music for the Institute of Fine Arts Degree examination and post-graduate examinations scrutinised this book most fruitfully. By the time that 'Sangeetha Sangeetha' had been written, up to then there had been no other publication available to match its classical standard. Since the publication of the book, there had been a number of other books on music that were published. It is understood that this book had been a support for most of those books. Some authors have included this book as a source of extracts in books written by them, and some authors have made use of the book without making any mention of this. It is observed that music teachers have been continuously making use of this publication. Yet for all, only a handful have been generous enough to record the support so derived through this book. Founder member Studies meant for the Indian Sangeeth Visharad Degree through a process of a series of a set of regular books known as Pustaka Mala compiled by Chaturpandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkande comprising of seven sets of Hindustani music. He is in fact the Founder Member of the Bhat Khande College of Music. For those who have no knowledge of the Hindi Language, the publication 'Sangeetha Sangeetha' has contributed much to provide a sufficient understanding about the contents of those books. When considering this fact, the service rendered by the 'Sangeetha Sangeetha' towards the field of music and music-related education in this country is indeed great. This book is also an asset for those who wish to gain a competent knowledge on Ragadhari music as a workbook. This publication which provides in brief a classical glossary on theoretical terminology of all terms used in the field of music is undoubtedly akin to an abridged encyclopedia. I am also personally aware that most music teachers when confronted with problems relating to theoretical terms have sought the assistance of 'Sangeetha Sangeetha'. The book 'Sangeetha Sangeetha' has been compiled with thirty-five chapters under five main categories. The opening chapter describes the origin and destruction of both Indian music and universal music. The second chapter titled as Geethavedaya in the second Sangeethava gives an exposition of information pertaining to classifications of songs, intonations, varieties of intonations, strength and weaknesses of intonations, sound and musical intonations, pitches, notes, septuple notes, raga, raga ragini family of raga, recitals, lyrics, vaggeyakarakas and also an introduction of Drupad recital patterns. The next section is devoted to explaining such topics as Vadyavedaya, Nrtyavedaya and Bharat Bhashya. A brief explanation is given about the factors that influenced the development of the modern music of both India and Sri Lanka. Short introductions on a number of musical publications written in Sanskrit is also seen. An explanation of factors that contributed towards the division of Indian classical music which assumed a gradual growth from the Vedic era into schools of Hindustani and Karnataka, and equalities and inequalities that exist among the two schools are methodologically described. On behalf of the illustrious publications 'Sangeetha Sangeetha' compiled by Kalakirthi Pandit Wimal Abhayasundera, it is clearly seen that hundreds of books on Sinhala, Pali, Sanskrit, Hindi and English have been gone into, because references and the relevant shlokas have been used. The 'Sangeetha Sangeetha' which has gained immense recognition among music critics and scholars gives proper guidance to amateurs studying ragadhari music and to those already competent. This publication which is a research work, could be used in public libraries, universities, scientific institutions and school libraries as well. Though this is a book written on the science of music, it has been written in a language-style that can be read with much facility. The first edition of this publication was published in 1963. For a period of over 25 years it had become a rare book in the book-stalls. It was at my own request that the necessity for a re-publication of this book was necessary. The publication of the new edition would certainly be a great satisfaction for students. This new edition had been prepared by Dr. Praneeth Abhayasundera, a senior lecturer at the Dept. of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Sri Jayawardenepura, Nugegoda who is also a well-known songwriter. The book has been printed in white printing paper and contains 1,368 pages. It also contains several new sections added to it together with a number of photographs, and has been published by Godage Brothers, Colombo. I believe that Deshabandu Mr. Sirisumana Godage who volunteered by expanding so much funds to print a great book such as this would undoubtedly earn well-deserved praise from the music community of this country. A ceremony to mark the presentation of the new edition of 'Sangeetha Sangeetha' and a seminar followed by a musical evening will be held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute today (17). The new edition of 'Sangeetha Sangeetha' could be bought at a reduced price at the ceremonial occasion. |
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