Suriyakumar on Marvels of classical music

Chamikara Weerasinghe

Patronising classical music concerts and having a grand piano at home, could perhaps mean one thing, and music another.

According to virtuoso keyboardist and music educator Suriyakumar Veerasingham most Sri Lankans keep or love to keep a piano in their residences, not necessarily for the reason that it is a fine musical instrument, but for the reason that it means of symbol of status for them.

Most people go to see classical music concerts not really because they love or understand classical music, but because of the dignity associated with the event itself.

They want to tell their relatives and friends that they were present at the classical music concert which took place at such and such theatre where such and such master musicians played, dominantly to gratify their honourable selves with high esteem.

In the following interview, Suriyakumar outlines the position of Western classical music in Sri Lanka and how people have perceived it. He also briefed us on the background of Western music in general.

We asked him how did Western music evolve?

Western music evolved in Europe, contrary to what some people think that it evolved in India, which is not. In fact it evolved in Syria, in Iraq. Even the Sitar evolved in Iraq.

Simultaneously, the evolution of music began in Europe with the church.

The first keyboard instrument that was used in the early period was the pipe organ, which was an electro-mechanical device.

So there was first church music using the pipe organ. Then came the “plain chant”, which was used in churches.

Pope Gregory invented what is known as the “Gregorian Chant.”

These chants were single line melodies and after a few years polyphonic melodies appeared. This was the birth of harmony.

What has made Sri Lanka embrace Western classical music?

It was mainly due to the British influence. Sri Lanka embraced Western classical music as it is a symbol of status.

Your comments on Western classical music played and taught in the country?

The Western music taught here is a modern type of classical music, which is the music of composers like Bach and Beethoven. We have an older type, that is Baroque music. Baroque music if played in the background greatly improves the memory of a student.

Mozart’s music has these characteristics, hence we call the Mozart effect.

One is able to memorise and learn big passages of prose in about one tenth the time.

What is the place for Western classical music in Sri Lanka?

Western music is something that many people talk about here , but it appears that most of them don’t understand it. People like Sonny Bartholemeusz and Raddy Perera played classical music here in the 50s.

Small foreign bands were playing at hotels like Mount Lavinia hotel and Taprobane.

Gradually, Sri Lankan musicians took over the music scene from the foreigners.

Have the Sri Lankan Western musicians fared well?

Most Western bands here don’t concentrate on improving and reaching to international level.

But there has been a few who have reached the international level like Rohan de Saram, Malani Jayasinghe Peiris and a host of others.

Can Western music benefit a student?

Western classical music can discipline the mind of a student with an extensive range of music knowledge.

You find classical, jazz, pop and many other styles in it.

Do children have to tire their minds learning music?

The whole point of children learning music is to broaden their minds, enjoy music and increase their perception of music. This is partially achieved by learning Western classical music. They must learn jazz, country and western, blues and oriental music to fully appreciate the subtle nuances of music. Music has only 12 different notes. The combination of these notes in different forms produces different styles.

Is it important to learn music theory?

The nuts and bolts of music is to learn the theory of music.

Western music has no fixed rules. It works on the principal of tonal fidelity or how clear the sounds are.

Music is organised sounds as against disorganised sounds, which is noise.

Does music come from one’s genes?

Music is not genetic. But there is a distinct increase of musical perception to be found in the children who come from families with musical parents.

What is music based on?

Music is based on mathematics. Pythagoras was the inventor of the present diatonic scale in use.

Why do some people play music so well although they do not seem to possess any theoretical knowledge?

Yes, this type is generally known as the talented or the gifted.

On the contrary, there are others who have good theoretical but not much practical knowledge. And this is very true in the case of Asia.

What should be done to uplift music education in Sri Lanka?

Music teaching should encompass music listening and appreciation based on the principle of “environment enhances ability”.

This is an area which we seriously lack. A child learns to speak before it can write. why? because he is living in an environment where he gets to hear that language. Therefore, he finds it easy to pick up the phonetics or the sounds of that language.

Therefore, environment enhances the ability.

Sohan and The X’ Periments on tour of Australia

Sohan and The X’Periments will play in Australia in a seven-week tour called the “ Down Under X’Perience 2008” from June 28 to 2nd of August.

Sohan Weerasinghe, the leader of the outfit said, they will leave for Australia tomorrow night.

The band will be playing in star hotels in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Moorabin starting from June 28 at Blackdown, Sydney.

The X’ Periments will be joined during the course of their tour by singers Ronny Leitch and Corrine Almeida.

Sohan said, they have cut a special CD titled “Colombo Carnival” to be released in Australia. This will be their seventh album.

“We have included two of our hits, Aadare and Orukandath in the new album,” he said. The band’s tour of Australia is sponsored by Ananda College Old Boys’ Associations and of Thomian College OBA.

Reggae Night on Sunday

Cupful de Silva and his band will be in concert tomorrow(22) at Aluthgama Vidyalaya from 7 pm.

It’s going to be an evening of reggae music. old.

Upul said, they were planning to sing several signature reggae classics at the concert, both new and old.

The band, Upul and the Gang is popular for singing Alfa Blondie covers in their repertoire.

They also play songs of Bob Marley and the Wailers.

Their line up is , Upul de Silva on vocals, Chammi Prasad on bass, Asela de Soyza on rhythm, Chandimal Karunaratna on keyboards, Upul Susantha on lead guitar and Ashan on drums. Chw