Dances to match speed and rhythm of music
 

Sarath Malalasekera

ENTERTAINMENT: A concert of enchanting instrumental music and enthralling dances titled "Nathamum Narthanamum" with the participation of several leading musicians from India will be held on February 26 at the New Kathiresan Hall, Colombo 4.

India's leading Electric Veena player Rajhesh Vaidhya will perform with eight other leading musicians from India.

Vaidhya was brought up in a rich musical tradition. His father Sri K. M. Vaidyanathan was a rhythm stalwart both in mridangam and ghatam. From a very tender age Vaidhya started his tutelage under Smt. Jeyalakshmi and continued receiving instructions on the Saraswathi Veena under Smt. Rama Nambinarayana. He also received advanced training under the world-renowned Carnatic Veena Maestro Shri Chitti Babu.

Apart from his blistering speed, Vaidhya's veena playing is distinguished by his use of electric or amplified strings.

The other Indian musicians are electric guitarist A. R. Ananda, Key Boardist-Navneeth, Mridangam-Karukuruchi N. Mohanaraman, Tabla player Chandrajith, Electorinic drums- G.R. Ganesh, Guatam FX, Vocal- Subramanian, Bharatam-Ashwini Arun and Archana Ganeshan.

Sri Lanka's leading dance troup Channa-Upuli will also perform at the concert.

The concert will be conducted through vocal and instruments such as the Veena, Violin, Viola, Flute, Nathaswaram, Clarinet, Guitar, Jalatharangam and Mandalin.

It could also be found in concerts percussion instruments such as drums (Miruthangam, Gangira, Thalatharangam) and string instruments such as Violin, Viola and also sometimes wind instruments such as the Flute and nowadays Nathaswaram, Sacksaphone are being used as accompanying instruments.

Music gradually developed into an art based on the seven sounds known as saptha swaras. The saptha swara have been developed into 72 Mela karththa rags. These are known as maternal rags from each of which several sub ragas have been formed.

The unique and distinctive feature of this growth of the ragas is that the rigid application of the sapthaswaras (7 swaras) have been very strictly maintained and any variations from such discipline is discarded.

The musical concert is in aid of the programs on prevention of Drug Abuse and HIV/AIDS of Sri Lanka Anti Narcotics Association (SLANA) and the Lions Clubs International District 306 A2.

Chief guest will be District Governor Lion Rohantha de Fonseka accompanied by Lion Yamuna. Guest of honour will be People's Leasing Company CEO D. Kumarage. District Coordinator Lion S.Ramachandran will also participate.

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