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| Monday, 10 November 2003 |
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Pradeep on the Sitar: An intrepid experimenter
Pradeep Ratnayake played the Sitar at the Lionel Wendt Theatre on October 25, to a packed audience (rare these days). He played yaman, a sampurana raga, in the gayaki style in which many great masters like Ravi Shanker and Vilayet Khan bring so much gaiety to whatever they play. Ravi Shanker, when he was not much older than Pradeep now, played bhairavi to great effect, in the same hall some 42 years ago, as Pradeep played yaman. I will remember both with equal pleasure. However, Pradeep is an experimenter on a grand scale. Perhaps, as he read his audience, Pradeep shortened the alap, where he plays without percussion, and substantially lengthened the part with percussion. The two drums, tabla and the pakhawaj added to the excitement. In the second part, he went further and added a cello and an electric guitar. The cello wailed nasally at the beginning giving an ambience of sadness but soon caught in the gaiety of the ukusa vannama, which to me sounded more like the melody of hanuma. The electric guitar joined in the great jollity. It was all great fun to listen to him fashion his own music in a tradition of music very jealous of its past. He will be back from Shantiniketan in December and Mithahasini, his little daughter, and we all look forward to first class music from him. - Dr. G. Uswatta-arachchi ######### Moratuwa "Oldies Sing-along" Sri Lanka's prime sing-along festival of 'golden oldies' organised annually by the Moratuwa Arts Forum (MAF) will come alive on Sunday, November 30 at the Hotel Ranmal, Moratuwa at 6.30 p.m. 'Down Memory Lane 2003' is the seventh programme in the series organised by MAF. As in past years, participants at this programme will be afforded the opportunity to join in with the MAF singers and the strains of the 'vintage orchestra' to sing-along to their hearts content. Perennial hits from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, American cowboy and plantation songs, Negro spirituals and Dixieland hits, Hawaaian melodies, wartime favourites, calypsos, oldies from the '60s and '70s era and evergreens from around the world would be featured in this 2 1/2 hour programme. All time hits of vintage singers such as Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Dean Martin, Doris Day, Eartha Kitt, Hank Snow, Nat King Cole, Hank Locklin, Pat Boone, Jim Reeves and others have been included in this sing-along programme. "We have retained some of the songs that old favourite enthusiasts love to sing year in and year out, but have also included around a dozen old favourites which had been never sung at previous years' shows. Some of them are being included by popular request," said Priya Peiris and Laksiri Fernando - joint project chairmen of this year's DML organising committee. The rest of the committee members comprise Lilanthi Jayaratne (Secretary), Ivan de Silva (Treasurer), Brian Coorey, Nihal Fernando, Hemaka Fernando, Thilak de Mel (current Secretary of MAF), Hiran Fernando, Merril Fernando, Lincoln de Silva (current Treasurer of MAF) and Tilak Perera. Current President of the MAF is Sarath Gunawardene. The 'vintage orchestra' will once again comprise of accomplished musicians, Randolph de Silva and Ramani Soysa taking turns on the piano, the evergreen Nissanka Wimalasuriya performing on his unique pedel steel (hawaaian) guitar as well as on the violin, harmonica and banjo, Rolinson Ferdinando (acoustic lead guitar), Ivan de Silva and Nihal Fernando (rhythm guitar) Brian Coorey and Channa Gallappaththi (bass guitar), Hiran Fernando and Laksiri Fernando (acoustic drums). Entry tokens are priced moderately. For box plan advance reservations contact on Anoushka Tel. No. 2652205. As on previous occasions, Arun Dias Bandaranayaka will perform duties as the 'emcee' for "Down Memory Lane 2003". The organisers ensure that the programme will start on time, while making a humble request from the participants to take their seats in the hall ten minutes prior to commencement. ############ Outstanding performances by Lankan beauticians Sri Lankan Hair dressers and Beauticians did their country proud by capturing the 1st runner-up positions in three categories and the outstanding country performer award at the 7th Hair Asia Pacific Competition organised by the Sri Lanka Association of Hair dressers and Beauticians (SLAHAB) Which concluded at the Raffles Convention Centre, Singapore on November 5. Dayananda de Silva won the first runner-up position in Ladies Evening Hair Style Category while Niroshan Disanayake was 1st runner-up in Bridal make up category. Gayathri Dias who was 1st runner-up in Nail Art Category also won the outstanding country (Sri Lanka) performer award which carried a trophy and a cash prize of 500 US dollars. The Grand Champion at the Competition was Runya Krosantipotorn of Thailand who won the highest cash prize of 2000 US dollars. Altogether 102 competitors from 13 nations including Sri Lanka, Japan, Singapore, Republic of Korea, Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam took part in the competition which is an important event in the Asian Fashion World. The 16 member Sri Lanka contingent to the competition comprised Dayananda de Silva, Suvineetha Gunawickrama, Fathima Sugeeri, Uthpala Jayasuriya, Renuka Dissanayake, Niroshan Dissanayake, Thushara Soysa, Gayathri Dias, Manouri Jayaweera, Ujitha Jayanthi, Champika Siriwardane, Thanuja Dissanayake, Hussain Faizer, M.K. Jayaweera, Thyagi Perera and Kushini Wickramasinghe. ############ a.k.a Albert Walker a.k.a Albert Walker a TV movie inspired by a true story will be shown on November 14 (Friday) at 10.00 p.m. on Rupavahini.When a man's body is fished out of the Devon seas, DC George Meyrick is assigned to the case. A search of the serial number of the unidentified man's Rolex watch reveals it is owned by Ronald Peck which leads Meyrick to Peck's friend Paul Morrow, a charming businessman who has come from Canada to live in Ilminster with his young wife Helen and their baby. The friendly Morrow offers to help Meyrick trace Peck's family and ex-girlfriend Jean Crowley until crucial evidence is uncovered revealing the death was a murder. Meyrick discover's that Morrow and Helen have assumed Ronald and Jean's identities. But before the police have enough evidence to question them about the murder, the couple goes on the run, leaving Meyrick to discover who Paul Morrow really is. Meyrick uncovers an incredible story of missing millions, a trail of aliases, the true nature of Morrow's relationship with Helen and finally, to man named Albert Walker. |
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