Music beyond the Song - Sagara Suresh Wijesinghe

Once maestro Premasiri Kemadasa directed our attention to a dialogue that took place between two artists after the Russian revolution in 1917. One of them was the great musician of that day Sergei Prokofiev and the other individual was Maxim Gorky, the outstanding man of letters.

Prokofiev asked Gorky:

“At this stage, what should be our mission as musicians?”

“We expect a tremendous service from you,” Gorky replied.

“Could you explain what is it?”

Gorky responded again.

“Construct wisdom in Workers and Peasants. Only musicians can instill it in them.”

What is the key point we can understand from this dialogue? Musicians must have a broad understanding of what they are doing and what the music is. Music is not only “songs”. The song is just one piece of music. Nevertheless the fact that Sri Lankan music is still embedded in the song is not a good way to fulfill the underlying job. The song alone cannot achieve the great cognitive process emphasized by Gorky.

Dr. Nuwan Nayanajith Kumara points out six musicians who played an outstanding role in enriching musical values of their time in Sri Lanka.

(1)   Ananda Samarakoon

(2)   Sunil Santha

(3)   W. D. Amaradewa

(4)   Premasiri Kemadasa

(5)   Sarath Dasanayake

(6)   Rohana Weerasinge

Dr. Rohana Weerasinge can be regarded as the successor of the first five musicians. And also Darshana Ruwan Dissanayake, Aruna Gunawardhena, Nalaka Anjana Kamara, Darshana Wickemathunga, and Kaveen Roopasinghe are some of the most prominent musicians who can be identified in this twenty-first century. Undoubtedly, they are talented musicians who are striving to develop the field of Sinhalese classical pop songs. Nevertheless none of them seem to have grasped the musical theory and practice of Kemadasa, except Darshana Ruwan Dissanayake. And also all of them can be considered as qualitative type musicians. 

Let's here to Maestro Kemadasa.

According to the critic, Lal Ananda Abedeera, there were two great musicians who can be considered as dynamic type musicians in Sri Lanka. One musician was Dr. Premasiri Kemadasa and the other musician was H. M. Jayawardena. Lal Ananda Abedeera introduces Sagara Suresh Wijesinghe also as the third great dynamic type musician in Sri Lanka. (Watch the following video) As I think, he is the outstanding musician who is displaying a great interest in bringing the musical values of maestro Premasiri Kemadasa, today.

Not only as a musician but also as a composer, Sagara Wijesinghe has a broad understanding of what he is doing and what the music is. When studying his compositions, it becomes clear.  Yet I wrote this note not to describe those musical values, but invite you to a self-evaluation. Because this is the first time we can enjoy music compositions after maestro Kemadasa. (Enjoy some music clips by Sagara, visiting following links)

* Angampora (අංගම්පොර)

* Sigiriya, Music bsed on Graffiti (සීගිරි ආලකමන්දාව)

* Cave concert - Hearing the stone age (බෙයන්ද් මීයැසි)

* Green concert (Birds make nests) - 6

* Wonder of Nature

In 2002, when Premasiri Kemadasa was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Ruhuna, he concluded his oration by saying:

“It is high time that we bid farewell to our under-developed music education. What iss urgently needed is bringing into being a generation of teachers who are adept in musicology. Although the voice we raised the best of our ability has vanished into thin air, I am sure, once again it will rise with the power, energy, and speed. I invite this distinguished assembly to help to perform this formidable task and extend its valuable assistance. The honour conferred upon me today will be totally meaningful when that happens.”

I think Sagara Suresh Wijesinghe has the strength to rise the voice of Kemadasa that vanished into thin air, with the power, energy, and speed as Maestro Kemadasa wished. Read following books too. Varily, music is the Tone of Thoughts that can be addressed to human heart.

Click here to Visit Sagara Suresh Wijesinghe's Youtube Channel