International Music Day

The Alliance Francaise de Colombo celebrated "Fete de La Musique" (International Music Day) recently at their auditorium in which several schoolchildren, teachers, parents, music lovers and people from different walks of life young and old participated.

It was a splendid event since everyone irrespective of caste, creed and race took part and made this occasion very colourful and memorable.

The programme included Kandyan dance, Ballet, social dance, pop music and various other dances and music which really enthralled the audience. Everyone who participated in these events performed their parts extremely well and captivated the hearts of the audience.

One of the students Samadhi performed Shakira's hip shaking dance excellently and she became the cynosure of all eyes.

Dushyanth sang a song of Michael Jackson which greatly received by the audience. Jayantha Ratnayake and Judy de Silva also rocked the crowd with their performances, while Annesley and his Band Super Chimes performed right throughout the day.

Even the students and teachers attached to Alliance Francaise de Colombo sang French songs, played the piano and guitars. Several prestigious schools from Colombo Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, Goodshepherd Convent, Kotahena, Sujatha Vidyalaya, Bishops College and Ananda College music bands performed oriental and Western music individually.

The white programme was compered by Zineb, a teacher from Alliance Francaise de Colombo with tremendous skill and competence which won the appreciation, recognition and congratulation from the audience.

The exquisite costumes, choreography and the lighting also contributed to the success of the event.

It is very often said that words are the pen of the heart, but music is the pen of the soul. Further, "nothing in the world can offer, what music has to offer". Music and dance are the great pride of our cultural scene today. Music can heal the soul and soften rocks.

Food nourishes the body, music nourishes the soul. It can actually smoothen out the ragged edges of our nerves. Music plays quite a dynamic role in our life and it keeps the people going. Music is motivation and it inspires us to do things, be creative and sensitive to other people's needs.

Music is a universal language and it makes you laugh and help you to think. It is an instrument of culture, broadened the heart, purifying fire which burns the prejudices and pettiness.

Centuries and customs do not age them and boundaries do not exist for them. Music is an art which permits, pervades and penetrates the whole atmosphere of the new civilization.

Undoubtedly, the excellent selection of music, song and dances of different varieties performed by the students of Alliance Francaise de Colombo were truly inspirational. In deed, much of the success of this memorable International Music Day was due to the dedication, devotion and commitment combined with high degree of discipline.

Chelvatamby Maniccavasagar