Succumbing to his life sonata

Khemadasa Foundation students reanimate Master’s compositions :

Ruwini Jayawardana

All eyes were on the dancers as they emerged from the shadows. With graceful and swift movements they paint a picture. It is a story related with actions and emotions – not with words.

The music sweeps into the story along with the beautifully ascending voices of the dancers. It all combines and goes hand in hand like a river flowing slowly, merging the Eastern musical traditions with the West.

The Western classical opera masterfully blended into the pulse of Sri Lankan culture reveals a unique creation which had enchanted audiences from all walks of life.

That is Maestro Premasiri Khemadasa’s work for you. The virtuoso who had made his mark in exploring various musical styles from Sinhala folk tunes to Hindustani music, Western music endowed a number of successful operas to the country. Training students from rural milieus, the musical genius was able to ignite the stage with Manasawila, Doramandalawa and Sondura Varnadasi. His last production Agni is based on the Prometheus myth. With his demise on October 24, 2008, he left a void that cannot be filled by another.

A special musical concert had been organized by the Khemadasa Foundation in association with the Old Boys Association of St John’s College, Panadura, in memory of the musical genius.

Titled Master – Khemadasa Ravaya, the event will coincide with his second death anniversary. It will go on boards the Kularatne Hall, Ananda College, Colombo, on October 26 and 27 at 7 pm. The audience will be treated to a range of Khemadasa’s musical compositions.

It is a mixture of his symphonies, film music, songs, operas, cantatas and tone poems. Around 20 youths will take part in staging scenes from his operas. The music orchestration will be handled by Samantha Perera. T Arjun will be the chief coordinator. Talented vocalist Indika Upamali spearheads the event.

“He noted that music was not limited to a mere song. It is vast topic just like the use of vocals. He borrowed western techniques and combined them with eastern tone colours. The result was a whole new technique.

We have sung in foreign countries with other opera singers. They were fascinated by his techniques because he had developed them through his own experimentation,” Indika drew upon her experiences with her teacher.

“He believed that singing developed with movements. Normally we have the actors on stage moving to the vocals of a group of singers. He did not believe in this.

He said that the actions and vocals should come together. Some of our traditional low country dance items like Shanthi Karma embody these techniques. He always made sure that both the movement and singing went hand in hand in his productions,” she stressed. She says that this art needs to be perfected through accurate breathing.

“He concentrated more on making his students look towards the future rather than the past or present. He had mentioned some of the modern techniques used today in the 1990s,” she recalled.

Speaking about the upcoming event Indika noted that the students of the foundation wish to take his legacy forward by handing preserving and handing his techniques for future generations.

“We held a concert annually to mark his birthday in January. Agni had even been included in the school syllabus.

“It will be an exceptional opportunity for students and art enthusiasts to witness some scenes from productions like Manasawila back on stage,” she concluded.

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