Joanna James
When it comes to music enjoyed by Sri Lankans, seven major categories could be identified, such as traditional folk music, local dramatic music, Hindustani and Tamil film music and Sinhala light music. All of these genres have made an impact on the local musical scene.
Folk music has been around in Sri Lanka since ancient times. This kind of music was enjoyed by the common people and was influenced by the religion of Buddhism; it was often linked with local legends and myths as well and included the use of a small drum played with the hands called a 'rabana'.
Several kinds of local dramatic music also developed in Sri Lanka. One of these is Kolam music which had its foundations in country tunes; this kind of music is not highly developed as it is confined to a limited number of notes. Another form of music in this category is Nadagam music which draws inspiration from the street dramas of South India. Finally, Noorthy music was initially based on Indian dramas and later was adapted to Sri Lankan tastes.
This kind of music, also known as Karnataka music, originated in southern India and could also be found in Sri Lanka’s northern regions. It is commonly enjoyed by people of the Tamil community in other parts of the island as well and is a reminder that the country has a diverse multicultural population.
This kind of classical music, also referred to as Ragadari music, has significantly impacted the Sri Lankan musical scene. A significant event linked to this type of music was the visit made by Rabindranath Tagore to the island nation; during this time, a drama was performed and Indian music, dance and art were introduced to Sri Lanka. This visit greatly impacted the local musical scene, and numerous Sri Lankan musicians took the opportunity to head to India to complete their higher education.
In times gone by, films weren’t initially produced in Sri Lanka and local film enthusiasts had to depend on Indian films for their entertainment. Later, when films began to be produced in the country, some local filmmakers relied on copied Indian film music for their creations. However, eventually, this tendency started to change, and authentic Sri Lankan music for films began to be composed. Lester James Peiris’ ‘Rekava’ happened to be the initial Sri Lankan film to feature genuine local music.
Sinhala light music may be regarded as a very well-liked genre with numerous local artists having focused on this kind of popular music. Many of the artistes who studied music in India returned to Sri Lanka and began to create enjoyable light music. A pioneer in this trend was Ananda Samarakoon who was also responsible for composing the Sri Lankan national anthem. Another important figure in this type of music was the esteemed Sunil Shantha who created original Sri Lankan songs. Since then, a great deal of outstanding Sinhala light music has been created by various artists. When staying at luxury hotels in down South Sri Lanka including properties of hospitality brands such as KK Collection, you may get a chance to hear such music as you explore the area and experience the local culture.
Western classical music was introduced to Sri Lanka by the British during the colonial period. Many Sri Lankan musicians turned to this form of music as it was fairly easy to learn. Today, it has also been combined with elements of traditional Sri Lankan music, paving the way for truly unique creations that can be heard on the radio or at live concerts which are popular as well.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
