Dr. Lionel Algama

Gifted musician and innovator
 

by Sunil Thenabadu

Dr. Lionel Algama is a renowned and gifted musician, teacher and composer. In addition he is an 'A' grade singer, in Hindustani and Bengali as well, examiner, 'A' grade instrumentalist, ballet - stage - films - teledrama - director, conductor, inventor of the original instrument called the 'Soorthar' and the sophisticated 'Sree Veena' which took him about 15 years to perfect.

He made an enthralling demonstration of the 'Sree Veena' as far back as 1979 at a musical recital at the Bharathiya Vidya Bhawan (UK Centre), an institute of Indian Culture, London for an exclusive Bhrahmin music community.

He has successfully written two theses for his doctorate, Teaching of Music and Development of the Chordophones, East and West in 1978 and in 1979. The final perfected product of the "Sree Veena" was completed only in 1994.

Early beginnings

He is a native of Gampaha. He had his primary education at Veyangoda Central. His father Jinadasa Perera, ran his own theatrical company mainly for amateurs. It was a routine every evening for artistes to conduct rehearsals at their residence.

Having identified his talents and interest in this creative field at the tender age of 20 years in 1955, he was sent to Visva Bharathi University, West Bengal, Shantiniketan to complete a degree in Music. Having studied Bengali and Hindustani he became a member of the broadcasting team, of the university as an instrumentalist during the tenure of his course.

As he grew in stature as a musician he evolved his own distinctive style. He experimented with sounds and instruments. Eventually, he invented the 'Soothar' which is basically the blending of sounds produced by Sithar, Hawaian guitar, Sarod, Santoor, Harp and Goothawadyam.

Besides his own "Soothar" he has mastered the Sithar, Sarod, Harmonium, Piano, Organ, Mendolin, Tennor, Banjo, Guitar, Esraj, Torshani, Santoor, Violin and Tabla.

He has excelled at classical and jazz concerts and Ballets in New Delhi, Calcutta, Bombay, Benares, Jaipur and Pakistan between the years 1955 1959. Subsequently he performed at Perth and Tasmania in Australia with the Chitrasena Ballet troupe, Broadcasting and T.V. Singapore in 1963.

Between 1979 1980 he performed for B.B.C. London, L.T.V. London, Manchester, Birmingham Camden Centre London, W.C.I., Commonwealth Institute of London, Bharathiya Vidya Bhawan (U.K.centre) Institute of Indian Culture London W14 9 HQ and also toured all the Scandinavian countries for musical recitals and concerts.

He recollects his performance at the Bharathiya Vidya Bhawan Institute of Indian Culture, London, a jealously guarded aristocratic preserve of high caste Indian Brahmin. He was incidentally requested to perform before the institute's board of directors and was allowed to perform only after passing a rehearsal. The performance was for charity. His performance fascinated the audience.

Music teacher

From 1959 to 1989 he worked as a music teacher and he had a long stint at Thurstan College, Colombo. He created the college song. In 1975 he was appointed as a Cultural Development Officer in the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. He was also entrusted with the duties as the examiner of music, both theory and practical at the Faculty of Aesthetic Education, University of Kelaniya.

He served as a supervisor in music, Ministry of Education in the Republic of Maldives from 1983 to 1984. He was entrusted to design the North Indian Classical music syllabus for the Institute of Asian Culture, University of Windsor, Sunset Avenue, Ontario, Canada.

He has composed and directed music in several films, ballets, dramas produced in Sri Lanka and won awards for the Best Music directions in 1961, 1963, 1966, 1976, 1984, 1996 and 2000. He was the winner of the national award for the Best Music Directions and Creations in 1995 and also won the best Teledrama Music Directions Award in 2000.

The musical score of the award winning film "Parasathumal" was his. He composed music for the main theme song sung by Sujatha Attanayaka, "Parawuna malwala suwanda aththe" music of which was his composition.

He had composed music for stage plays such as "Naribena, Romeo and Juliet, Sinahawa, Nuwana Podiya, Tikirimalie, Oedipus, Kusa Pabawathie, and the Horror of Mahahena."

Sree Veena

He also directed music for ballets, Karadiya, Nala Damayanthi, Sakunika, Ginihora, Rankikily, Kinkini Kolama, Capture, Isolation, Making of Men, Through the Desert and Macbeth. In addition he has composed, organised and conducted music for several feature programs in Hindustani, Classical and Light music.

He played his new instrument "Sree Veena" in a solo concert at Elphinston Theatre, Maradana on 7 January 1996. Professor of Music, University of Delhi Ajit Singh Paintal was the chief guest had this to say.' The "Sree Veena innovated by Algama had unique sound quality of many Indian instruments like Sarod, Sitar and Swar-Mandal all combined together into one instrument.

Algama's performance is marked with, highly skilled technique as he is fully conversant with several Indian and Western musical instruments. It is a unique experience to listen to Algama playing on Sree Veena Indian Ragas with such depth.

Dr. Lionel Algama completed his 70th birthday on 24 March, 2005. To commemorate the golden jubilee of his musical career it was his intention to celebrate the occasion with a solo music recital with the aid of his invention, the Sree Veena. Unfortunately due to the tsunami catastrophe, he postponed the event without any hesitation.

While extending to him heartiest congratulations for innovating "Sree Veena" he has confirmed that the instrument possess an independent status for a solo concert.

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