Double Celebration
60th birth anniversary today and 35 years in the
music scene :
Ruwini JAYAWARDANA
As Lester James Peiris is to the cinema, W.D. Amaradeva is to music;
Rohana Weerasinghe is an irreplaceable figure in Sri Lankan music
composition. The talented musician has won immense applause for his
ability to bring out captivating tunes. Be it a soothing melody, a tune
to evoke the trauma within a soul or a lively foot-tapper, he brings out
the best in what the song has to offer.
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Rohana Weerasinghe Picture by Saman Sri Wedage |
The musician who had created history by composing music to over 3000
tunes sung by over 700 vocalists is celebrating 35 years in the music
scene with an exceptional musical extravaganza titled Aadaraneeya Rohana
- Panthis Vasara. The event will take place at the BMICH on February 25
at 6 p.m.
Launch
“I hope to launch a variety of new musical compositions at this
event. They are very different from those I have taken on before and I
will also launch a collection of songs along with a book including the
milestones and interesting facts in my career,” Rohana expressed on the
upcoming show.
Aadaraneeya Rohana - Panthis Wasara will indeed be a new experience
to Sri Lankan music fans as a host of one new creations which are a far
cry from his previous work will be brought to the scene. First up is a
symphony based on the concept of a river.
Titled Wewa this musical composition brings the serene atmosphere of
sitting and watching the beauty of the river from a river bank. The
majestic quality as well as the dark side of one of nature’s most
beautiful creations is brought to the audience through a blend of music.
Twenty-five members of the Sri Lankan Symphony Orchestra led by Ananda
Dabarae will provide music.
Kamatha a creative music orchestra which employs folk music merged
with choir music will be presented by the choir of St. Joseph’s College
trained by Francis Almeda. Another event included in the schedule is the
Daskon musical ballet which is presented by renowned choreographers
Channa Wijewardena, Upuli Panibaratha and Ravibandu Vidyapathi.
“We will be presenting the Daskon - Pramila romance with a new
concept. Pramila Devi will be deceived to think that Daskon had left the
country instead of being killed. This is a short version and the dancers
will express their emotions through facial expressions and body
movements,” he explained.
Popular songs
Twenty-six hits he had set to tune along with a continuous string of
sections of 10 popular songs will be sung by 40 vocalists. Visharada
Nanda Malini, Sunil Edirisinghe, Victor Ratnayake, Dr. Sanath Nandasiri,
Somathileke Jayamaha, Visharada Neela Wickramasinghe, T.M. Jayaratne,
Amarasiri Peiris, Visharada Edward Jayakody, Bandara Athauda, Lakshman
Wijesekara, Niranjala Sarojini, Nirmala Ranatunga, Visharada Deepika
Priyadarshani, Pradeepa Dharmadasa, Visharada Charitha Priyadarshani,
Karunaratne Deulganae, Bandula Wijeweera, Rohana Siriwardena, Nirosha
Virajini, Shashika Nisansala, Athula Adikari, Visharada Samitha
Mudunkotuwa, Ananda Weerasiri, Dammika Bandara, Dayan Vitharana, Uresha
Ravihari, Janaka Wickramasinghe, Krishantha Erandika, Rohan Shantha
Bulegoda, Harshana Dissanayake, Nadeeka Jayawardena, Chamika Sirimanna,
Lesley Thomas, Ranjan Saliya and Suranji Shyamali will take part in the
musical program organised by Bandara Ehaliyagoda of ‘Events’.
Nonchi Akka, a satirical song based on the Nonchi Kolama penned by
Kumaradasa Saputhanthri and choreographed by Ariyaratne Kaluarachchi is
also a part of the program.
The highlight of the event will be the launching of Rohana’s latest
CD, Piya Puthu Gee Muthu. The CD includes eight new songs sung by Rohana
along with eight more songs sung by his sons, Kalindu and Chirath.
“People keep asking me if I am not interested in adding more songs
sung by me to my collection. Even though I have sung songs like Muthu
Kuda, Ratharan Duwae and Nathi Bari Mohothata, I believe that I have not
excelled in that sector.
Experience
“I am aware of that as a fact because I have many years of experience
in composing music. You need to possess exceptional talent to emerge as
a singer per se. However after completing 35 years in the field the time
has come for me to make use of that experience,” he noted adding that he
started off with singing for amateur programs on radio while still
engaged in studies at the College of Fine Arts.
The CD comprises one duet with his sons and a duet with Nelu Adikari.
It also includes a duet between Chirath and Sunil Edirisinghe’s
daughter, Shankani.
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Rohana Weerasinghe with his family |
In addition to this, a book containing a collection of his most
memorable events in the field will also be launched along with another
volume containing some Western and Eastern musical scores he had
composed for songs sung by other vocalists. Rohana’s official website
www.rohanaweerasingheonline.com will also be launched.
Aadaraneeya Rohana - Panthia Vasara will be sponsored by People’s
Bank, Lottery’s Board and Development Lottery.
How do you make out a good melody?
“The maker of the tune should be able to relish his own work ahead of
the public. The tune should also possess the quality to capture and
absorb into the minds of the listeners with ease. If it is engraved in
their mind and hearts and if the listeners walk away humming the tune,
he said adding that though some tunes are heard over and over again,
then you have a winner.
Weerasinghe is a musician who had worked with three generations of
vocalists and is willing to back-up talented debutants. He admires the
work of skilled music composers like Navaratne Gamage, Samantha Perera,
Mahinda Bandara, Suresh Maliyadda and Nadeeka Guruge.
Rap music
“I have composed tunes in a variety of genres. I put together rap
music for a role of a pop singer in the teledrama named Diriya Doni.
That was a new experience for me and one that I thoroughly enjoyed,” he
mused.
“I take up any style if the need arises. Since I work with a lot of
vocalists in oriental music I do not get the opportunity to compose
music to such genres. It is okay to change the style without copying
from other creations. A good tune alone is not the ingredient of a
successful song. You need a good voice and lyrics to go along with the
melody. All three parties involved deserve credit,” he stressed, adding
that the society today is interested in finding out who composed the
music as well as penned the lyrics when they listen to a song.
“That is encouraging because in the past they were interested in only
finding out who sang the song, but times have changed.”
According to the renowned musician the meaning of the lyrics plays a
prominent role in setting it to tune. The decision on how to modify the
notes derives from the meaning as the rhythm sets the mood for the
situation. Instruments are also chosen according to this process and
even the octave and singer’s range and style should be considered when
composing music.
“Youths nowadays are vying to achieve fame through any means. They
borrow pieces from old hits and develop them by mixing it with new
trends in the music scene.
Past creations
“In the oriental field we do not feel like taking similar actions as
we cherish past creations. It is beneficial if you pick quality music
from the West but most of the vocalists of the era just follow the flow.
Quality productions are essential if we are aiming for the international
market. The problem does not arise with the style of music but in
quality, presentation and discipline.
“For instance every channel is after what is popular. Some programs
which involve DJs speaking in voices sounding like old men and singing
songs in a silly manner are very popular today.
“The tragedy is that the other radio stations too copy this method
instead of trying to compete with a quality program; whatever ‘new’
release that comes along is grabbed and given airtime,” he said.
Weerasinghe had directed music for three films which will begin
screening soon: Sandun Rajakaruna’s Uththara, Sunil Aruna Weerasiri’s
Tikiri Suwanda and a film by Siri Kularatne.
“If peace and harmony dawns again the arts scene too will be
rejuvenated. Tamil cultural events have been withdrawn from us for a
long time and its resurgence will enable to enrich our music by blending
it with Tamil tunes. There is a Tamil speaking audience around the globe
who will appreciate this music and we will be able to cater to them in
the same league as Tamil artistes.”
“Who knows, there will be our own Tamil composers soon, surpassing
even those from countries in the region.” |
