A distinguished musician remembered

The late Clarence Wijewardena’s 67th birthday falls today, August 03, 2010:

Siri Hettiarachchi

This Great Musician was born in Haputale and was the eldest of a family of 5 (2 sons and 2 daughters). Clarence’s father was a Doctor in the estates and served in towns such as Balangoda, Hatton, Matale and Ratnapura. His mother was a Matron.

Though Clarence spent much of his time in Colombo, many of his songs portrayed people and events which focused on the village Batugedara in Ratnapura where he happened to meet the comely lass Sheela who later became his beloved wife.

Clarence had the rare distinction of being called A Vageyakar a word akin to Indian Classical Music. Vageyakar means a person who composes a song, gives it a melody and also sings it. In other words he was a multi-faceted musician. He was Music Director for the films Chathumadura, Hello Shyama, Chalitharangali, Apeksha and Sikurulia the latter of which became immensely popular. Susima and Nidikumba Mal were among the teledramas for which he operated as Music Director. He provided the melody and music for a song sung by Maestro W.D. Amaradeva in Nidikumba Mal. It was Clarence who introduced the Electric Guitar to the pop scene in Sri Lanka and was the first to release a non-stop cassette to the country. He is also remembered for producing a cassette on the occasion when Sri Lanka won test status.

Clarence has composed over a 2000 songs with Golden Chimes, Super Golden Chimes, Moonstones and two other Artists. He was however such a deserving singer but an unsung singer in his own land. He was unfortunate in one sense as there was no honour bestowed on him by any government or affiliated institution except by a handful of private institutions.

The number of some of the present day top ranking singers and musicians to whom Clarence gave a helping hand and the much required ‘push’ are many. But it is pathetic that only a handful of those artistes cared to call over at his residents during the time he was ailing. Of course some of his friends overseas were generous enough to send recordings of some musical fiestas held by Clarence. Some of these include tapes of shows held in the states in Los Angeles in 1990, in Australia in 1989, in Napoli, Italy in 1993 and also in Canada.

Clarence had a glowing vision. He had enthusiastic plans of selling his property in Nugegoda and constructing a fully equipped, sophisticated and ultra modern Music Studio and possessed many a catalogue. Though these documents are still in safe custody, its owner is no more with us.

Chandral Fonseka, Bassist of Super Golden Chimes once had written an article to the newspapers that a song could be enjoyed in 3 different ways. First that it could be enjoyed by hearing. Second that it could be felt in one’s body and thirdly when one begins to enjoy it with one’s heart. In his article he goes on to say that Clarence possessed all these elements in his songs that he composed and that was the reason why it penetrated the hearts of the young and old alike.

Presently Clarence’s wife Sheela is holidaying in Australia having joined her only daughter Amila who is already a citizen in Australia. Sheela would however be back in Sri Lanka soon. As she is expected to attend to litigation matters where she has filed action against intellectual property matters pertaining to Clarence. May the name of Clarence remain a Legend in the Hearts of all his music fans!