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The music of Sri Lanka originates in cultural traditions deriving from three influences: the religious practices of Buddhism, the aftereffects of Portuguese colonization, and the commercial and historical influence of Indian culture - specifically, Bollywood cinema. Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Bollywood (बॉलीवूड بالی وڈ is the informal term popularly used for the Mumbai -based Hindi-language Film industry in India

Buddhism is said to have arrived in Sri Lanka after the Buddha's visit to the island in 3000 BC. Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder The 30th century BC is a Century which lasted from the year 3000 BC to 2901 BC Though it is debated as to how the Buddha made this journey, many believe that he did so by traveling across Rama's Bridge (the land bridge that is believed to have once connected the two present-day nations of India and Sri Lanka). Adam's Bridge ( Tamil: ta ஆதாம் பாலம்) also known as Rama's Bridge or Ram Setu ( Tamil: ta இராமர் India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Following this visit, it is believed that many of the local populous began converting to the Theravada sect of Buddhism, and it is the influence of this faith that would later begin to manifest itself in Sri Lankan music. History Origin of the school The Theravāda school is ultimately derived from the Vibhajjavāda (or 'doctrine of analysis' grouping which was a continuation

Portuguese colonizers arrived centuries after the Buddha, in the mid 1400s, bringing with them cantiga ballads, ukuleles and guitars; as well as African slaves (referred to, historically, as kaffrinhas), who brought with them a style of music now referred to as baila. A cantiga ( cantica, cantar) is a medieval monophonic Song from Spain or Portugal. A ballad is a Poem usually set to Music; thus it often is a story told in a Song. The ukulele (ˌjʉːkəˈlɛɪli from ʻukulele /ˌʔukuˈlele/ variantly spelled ukelele (particularly in the UK) or alternatively abbreviated uke The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles As a social-economic system slavery is a legal institution under which a Person (called "a slave" is compelled to work for another Baila is the term used to describe a form of Dance music popular on the island of Sri Lanka. The people of these two regions, and the musical traditions they brought with them, served to contribute further to the diverse musical roots of modern Sri Lankan music.

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Endemic Instruments (The Béra)

According to the historical record available today, it is believed that several instruments originated within the tribal groups that once inhabited the island presently known as Sri Lanka. Among these, seven remain in use:

1. Gáta Béra - Also referred to as the Kandyan Drum; it is a double-headed, barrel-shaped drum, that is played by hand).

2. Thammátama - A twin-drum (similar to the bongo) that is played with two sticks instead of by hand.

3. Yak Béra - Also referred to as the Low Country Drum; it is a double-headed, barrel-shaped drum, that is played by both hands (one in one side).

4. Udákkiya - A small, hour-glass shaped drum, that is played with one hand while the other hand modifies the tension of a cloth wrapped around its centere (thereby changing the pitch of the drum-head) .

5. Hand Răbāna - A drum similar to the tambourine (except in that it does not possess metal jingles)

6. The tambourine or Marine is a Musical instrument of the percussion family consisting of a frame often of wood or plastic with pairs of small metal jingles Daŭla - A double-headed, barrel-shaped drum played by hand (on one side), and by a stick (on the opposite side).

7. Bench Răbāna - Similar to the hand rabana, except larger (it is often played by three to eight individuals simultaneously).

In addition to these drums, a new drum was recently created (in 2000) by Sri Lankan musician Kalasoori Piyasāra Shilpadhipathi, referred to as the Gaŭla - it is a barrel-shaped instrument containing one head from the Gáta Béra, and one from the Daŭla. A set of rudiments (practice rhythms) were also created by him to accommodate the instrument's unique tone.

Also in addition to these drums, the dhōlki is also used by many musicians - though this drum is believed to have descended from those brought to Sri Lanka from India - unlike the aforementioned instruments; which are believed to have existed in Sri Lanka prior to the arrival of the first Indian explorers (though this is difficult to verify due to the proximity of the two nations to one another - it is impossible to say, with any degree of certainty, that no cultural exchange occurred between the peoples of southern India and Sri Lanka prior to any particular date in history).

A Brief History of 'Modern' Sri Lankan Music

For many years, what were considered new Sri Lankan pop songs (other than baila songs), were, in large part, drawn heavily upon melodies found in Indian films - adapted to a Sri Lankan audience by substituting their original lyrics with Sinhala/Tamil lyrics. Baila is the term used to describe a form of Dance music popular on the island of Sri Lanka. Bollywood (बॉलीवूड بالی وڈ is the informal term popularly used for the Mumbai -based Hindi-language Film industry in India

The earliest stars of Sri Lankan recorded music came from the theater at a time when the traditional open-air drama (referred to in Sinhala as kolam, sokari or nadagam) remained the most popular form of entertainment. Theatre (or theater, see spelling differences) is the branch of the Performing arts defined by Bernard Beckerman as what "occurs when one Sinhalese or Sinhala (සිංහල ISO 15919: siṁhala ˈsiŋhələ earlier referred to as Singhalese) is the language of the Sinhalese A 1903 album, entitled Nurthi, is the first recorded album to come out of Sri Lanka via Radio Ceylon. Year 1903 ( MCMIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar or a Common year starting Radio Ceylon is the oldest Radio station in Asia. Broadcasting was started on an experimental basis in Ceylon by the Telegraph Department The station, which had long held a monopoly over Sri Lanka's airwaves, had been established in 1925, and one of Sri Lanka's pioneering broadcasters,Vernon Corea, almost immediately grasped the opportunity to introduce Sri Lankan Music on the English Services of Radio Ceylon. Year 1925 ( MCMXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Vernon Corea ( 11 September 1927 - 23 September 2002) was a pioneer radio broadcaster with 45 years of public service broadcasting both in

During the early 1960s, music that had been produced for Indian films had grown to become the most popular kind of music in Sri Lanka. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 Conversely; Sri Lankan stars like Sunil Shantha found greater popularity among Indian audiences than those in their homeland - by 1963, Radio Ceylon had more Indian listeners than Sri Lankan ones. Sunil Santha (1915&ndash1981 was a renowned and influential Sri Lankan singer Shantha, Molligoda, and other songwriters (most notably Mahagama Sekara), however, realized the importance of reaching the people they had long overlooked, and began the Sri Lankan Artistic Revolution. Mahagama Sekara (1929-1976 is one of Sri Lanka 's well known Poets and was a significant figure in Sinhalese poetry. This class of songwriters is now remembered for its deeply poetic, and honestly expressed, ideas - many of which also promoted a sense of nationalism in a nation that had received independence less than a generation before in 1948 (Ananda Samarakoon, a prominent songwriter of the period, later wrote Sri Lanka's national anthem). The term nationalism can refer to an Ideology, a sentiment, a form of Culture, or a Social movement that focuses on the Nation Ananda Samarakone (1911 – 1962 was a Sri Lankan Composer and Musician. A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's

At the peak of this revolution, musicians such as Mohamed Ghouse, Nimal Mendis, Premasiri Kernadasa and W. D. Amaradeva began pioneering a uniquely Sri Lankan style of film music. Mohammed Gauss (or Mohamed Ghouse) was a Sri Lankan Film music composer Nimal Mendis a Sri Lankan singer and songwriter He is one of a handful of Sri Lankan musicians to make it to the BBC television programme Top of the Pops Premasiri Kernadasa was a popular Sri Lankan Filmi musician of the 1950's. Wannakulawattawaduge Don Albert Perera (born December 5, 1927 in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka) better known by his adopted name Amaradeva This was followed, in the mid-1960s, by the introduction of pop groups such as Los cabelleros led by Neville Fernando, The La Bambas, The Humming Birds and Los Muchachos; all of whom played calypso-style baila borrowing their style from Caribbean folk-singer Harry Belafonte. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 La Bambas was an influential Sri Lankan music group comprised of Priya Peiris Rollinson Ferdinando Brian Fernando and Lasla Fernando Calypso-style baila is a genre of Sri Lankan music. It grew out of Sri Lankan musicians' fascination with the music of the Caribbean in the 1960s particularly Harold George Belafonte Jr (born March 1 1927 is an American musician actor and Social activist. This mixture of Caribbean calypso with native baila was dominated by two groups: The Moonstones, and The Golden Chimes led by musicians Annesley Malewana and Clarence Wijewardene. The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean Music which originated in Trinidad and Tobago at about the start of the 20th century The Moonstones was an influential Sri Lankan band led by Clarence Wijewardene and Annesley Malewana. Annesley Malewana ( Sinhala, ˈænəsli ˈmaːləvənə is an influential Sri Lankan musician Clarence Wijewardane (August 3 1943 – December 13 1996 is a legendary Sri Lankan musician who pioneered the use of Electric guitar in Sinhala music

Sri Lankan pop/filmi music managed to hold a large portion of Sri Lanka's market during the late 1960s and early 1970s, but by 1980, Indian film music had again displaced local musicians as the highest-selling sector of the Sri Lankan music industry. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970.

Western classical music has been studied and performed in Sri Lanka since its introduction during the British Colonial period of the 19th century. Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to mainstream music produced in or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and Secular music The upper middle-class and upper-class citizens of the country have traditionally formed the pedagogues, students, and audience of the Western classical tradition in the country, although western music is also offered as a subject at secondary schools and at tertiary level. The Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka is one of the oldest western orchestras in South Asia. [1]. Many Sri Lankans have continued to reach the upper echelons of classical performance, including world renowned cellist Rohan de Saram, White House pianist Rohan de Silva [2], and many other composers, organists, and orchestral performers. See also Executive Office of the President of the United States The White House, formerly known as the Executive Mansion, is the Official residence

Since 1998, Many Pop/R&B groups have emerged in Sri Lanka - the most prominent of which is known as Bathiya and Santhush (these two musicians are considered pioneers in contemporary Sri Lankan pop, having begun performing in 1998 with female singer Ashanthi and rapper Randhir). Bathiya & Santhush (BNS are one of the biggest names in the Sri Lankan Music industry who were pop/rap duo comprising of Bathiya Jayakody and Ashanthi de Alwis is a female Sri Lankan music artist She is the only Sri Lankan female R&B / hip-hop artist to be signed to an international record label Universal Records Among their accomplishments; they are the first Sri Lankan group to be signed to an international record label (Sony BMG), and were an integral component in the label's entrance into the nation's music industry in 2002/2003. They have received international awards for their compositions, and have performed in several countries - including on BBC radio in the UK. The artist M.I.A. is an electric artist living in London who is of Sri Lankan ancestry. Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam (born July 17 1977 better known by her Stage name M M. I. A. has recently reached acclaim in the United States. Other Western styles of music, such as rock and heavy metal, are also popular among the middle and upper class youth of the country. Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums.

Lusophone music
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See also

References

External links

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