Traditional Music of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Music

Buddhism, Indian classical music and the Portuguese colonizers were the three biggest influences on Sri Lanka’s music scenario. While Buddhism arrived in 300 BC, after the visit of Gautama Buddha, the Portuguese arrived in the 15th century. The African slaves who came along with the Portuguese added further harmony to the music of the island. As the Portuguese brought cantiga ballads, ukuleles and guitars, the slaves brought their dance music called baila. As seen today, the music of Sri Lanka can be categorised into the following- Traditional folk music of Sri Lanka Traditional folk music existed from the very beginning of its race and it under the Buddhist environment. The ordinary people.wre the one to use this form of music. Local drama music (Kolam/Nadagam/Noorthy) Kolam is based on low country tunes and it is not a well developed form of music. Limited to very few notes about 3~4 and It is used by the ordinary people for pleasure and entertainment and is limited to very few notes, about 3~4. Nadagam is a much more developed form of drama evolving under the influence of South Indian street plays, introduced by some South Indian Artists.  Noorthy was first introduced by C. Don Bastian of Dehiwala, taking the cue from Indian dramas. It was John De Silva who developed it and did Ramayanaya in 1886. Hindustani classical music (Ragadari Music) In 1934 Ravindranath Tagore visited Sri Lanka with a group of artists and performed a drama. He also laid the foundation stone for “Sri Pali” at Horana and later introduced music, art and dancing. His visit brought drastic changes into the Sri Lankan music scene.  South Indian classical music (Karnataka Music) This type of Music can be seen in South India and northern part of Sri Lanka and used by the Tamil community. Tamil and Hindustani Film music During the early years film production was not in vogue in Sri Lanka and films were imported from India. Film music was copied from the Indian counterparts.“Rekhawa” produced by Sir Lester James Peiris was the first Sri Lankan film produced using Sri Lankan music. “Nurthi" is the first recorded music to come out of Sri Lanka Western classical music The British introduced western music to Sri Lanka during their period of rule from 1815 to when the country gained freedom in 1948. Thus, the Sri Lankans learned the art of playing the piano too. Sinhala light music  Some artists visited India to learn music and later started to introduce light music.Ananda Samarakone who composed the national anthem was the pioneer in this field. Baila: Originally, Baila consisted of vocals with a guitar and handclaps or otherwise improvised percussion, but now electric guitars, synthesizers and other modern developments have been incorporated. However, it is at the roots of modern Sri Lankan music.

Sri Lankan Music

Music of Sri Lanka can be divided in to seven categories as seen today.  1) Traditional folk music of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka had traditional folk music from the beginning of its race, which has been enjoyed and developed under the Buddhist environment.They were used by the ordinary people. 2) Local drama music (Kolam/Nadagam/Noorthy) Kolam music based on law country tunes and it is not a developed form of music, as tunes were not developed. Limited to very few notes about 3~4 and used by the ordinary people for pleasure and entertainments. Nadagam music is more developed form of drama influenced from South Indian street drama which was introduced by some South Indian Artists.Phillippu Singho from Negombo in 1824 Performed �Harishchandra Nadagama� in Hnguranketha which was originally written in Telingu language. Later �Maname�, �Sanda kinduru� and few others were introduced.  C. Don Bastian of Dehiwala introduced Noorthy firstly by looking at Indian dramas and then John De Silva developed it and did Ramayanaya in 1886.  3) Hindustani classical music (Ragadari  Music) Ravindranath Tagor visited Sri Lanka with a group in 1934 and performed a drama and laid the foundation stone for �Sri Pali� at Horana and later introduced music, Art and Dancing. His visit to Sri Lanka made a big change and the awareness in the music scene and lot of Sri Lankan started visiting India for higher education.  4) South Indian classical music (Karnataka Music) This type of Music can be seen in South India and northern part of Sri Lanka and used by the Tamil community.  5) Tamil and Hindustani Film music Sri Lanka did not produced films and had to export from India during the early periods. Music for films such as �Kadawunu Poronduwa�, �Varadunu Kurumanama�, �and Angulimala� and others too copied from Indian film songs. �Rekhawa� produced Sir Lester James Peiris was the first Sri Lankan film produced using Sri Lankan music. 6) Western classical music British wanted to introduce western music to Sri Lanka during their period of rule from 1815.It was a success and soon Sri Lankan were able to learn the piano as it was not that difficult to learn as Indian music. 7) Sinhala light music  Some artist visited India to learn music and later stared introducing light music.AnandaSamarakone was the pioneer of this attempt and and He composed National Anthem too. Then Sunil Santha who also did not stick to Hindustani music introduced light music of his own. Please visit http://www.info.lk/music to listen few of them online.  Nowadays this is the most popular type of music in Sri Lanka and enriched with the influence of folk music, kolam music, Nadagam music, Noorthy music, Film music, Classical music, Western music and others too. Most of the musician in Sri lanka have come out with their own creations and  become success in this category of music.