‘Not enough hours in a day’

Angu Rajendran

He plays the lead violin and is also one of the most well-known contemporary conductors of the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka(SOSL). Just the mere mention of his name, is awe-inspiring to those associated with western classical music in our country. Ananda Dabare is a living legend in Sri Lanka both with the violin and as a conductor of the Sri Lanka Symphony Orchestra and now the Junior Symphony Orchestra. A simple man with great passion, he speaks of his life and times and goals and aspirations.

Q: You are known as one of the foremost classical musicians in the country today. When did your interest in music start? How?

A: Around about the time that I was eight years old I found out that my father had a violin at home. I come from a large family of three boys and three girls. My father who worked in the Education Ministry had as his prized possession – a violin which he used to practice within the evenings.

Ananda Dabare Playing the violin Pictures by Wasitha Patabandigew

He always told my mother not to let the children touch his violin when he was at work. That got me very interested in the instrument. When he was not at home, I used to try hard to play exactly like how he did. And that is how my interest in music started.

Q: What are all the musical instruments that you play and which one is the instrument of your choice? Why?

A: I can play the piano and the organ a little but my real love is the violin. The violin has captured my heart. I literally speak with the violin. Since those early days when my mother complained to my father that she could not stop me from playing the violin, the violin has always been my favorite instrument. My father who realised that I had a real ear for music sent me to a tutor, to learn to play the violin.

Q: You are said to have had a good grounding in oriental music as well? How did that happen?

A: Yes that is true. My father and his friend who was my first tutor played oriental music on the violin. That is what I first learnt. Once on a holiday in Anuradhapura with my family, I was tuning a radio out of sheer boredom and suddenly tuned on to a channel which I think was called City FM when I heard western music for the first time played on the violin. I was simply amazed at the music that was being produced. I had never heard that before. That was the turning point in my life. I came back to Colombo and searched for a teacher and found the Great Douglas Ferdinand to teach me western classical music.

Q: At what age did you get a scholarship to Russia to study music?

A: While I was a student of Douglas Ferdinand he made me take the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music exams(ABRSM), UK, in just two years. I started with grade five the first year and completed grade eight the next year. I was twenty three at that time when Premasiri Kemadasa had arranged a concert at the Russian Embassy. I was playing there and when my teacher Ferdinand heard that two Russian Music professors were present in the audience he requested a ten minute individual recital for me with the professors. That was another important moment for me.

They immediately offered me a six year scholarship in the Moscow University.

Q: Do you think that has helped you in your career?

A: Of course! Although I was fairly independent at that time itself by playing at a few recitals and a few recordings at the radio stations, Russia was a great opportunity. I completed an MA in Fine Arts and got a thorough grounding in Music as a whole and the violin as a specialty. Soon after I came back I got another scholarship to the UK to learn to conduct the orchestra.

Q: In this age of fusion music, how have you used your knowledge of oriental music with your expertise in western classical music? Which do you personally prefer to play?

A: I am good in oriental music but I personally love western classical music. The main reason is that western classical music is organized and systematic that a large number of people can play together in harmony. Music has been written for orchestras. And when so many different instruments can play together, it is indeed amazing. In oriental music there are too many individual styles. It is difficult for a group to play together but for solo it is good.

Q: You are also the lead violinist in the orchestra, would you personally prefer to conduct the orchestra or play an instrument in the orchestra?

A: Of course though I enjoy conducting and have my own style, most of all I love to play the violin. I think for everyone it is the same. When you can play an instrument you would rather play. But I really love to teach more than anything. I want to develop the future of orchestral music in Sri Lanka. I have so many goals and so many plans but not enough hours in a day to do all that I want to do.

Q: Are you involved with the Junior Symphony Orchestra as well?

A: Yes, in fact this year, I have given up the SOSL both playing and conducting because I am concentrating on the Junior Symphony orchestra. Few years ago there was a lack of young musicians to draw into the SOSL, so I was chosen to build the Junior symphony orchestra. Some of the musicians from the Junior Orchestra are already playing in the SOSL. I am indeed happy to be contributing to the development of music in this very musical country

Q: What would you say is the future of Western Classical Music in Sri Lanka?

A: Music is universal, music is global. You don’t need an education to appreciate good music. In fact recently, I was driving somewhere with a carpenter from a village and when I played some of my classical music, he was genuinely happy. He told me that he truly enjoyed the music. I was quite surprised. I realised then that whether you live in a city or village, in this country or another, music is for all.