A Tribute to Pandith Amaradeva

                       

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The artiste without peer

G. Hemapala Wijayawardhana

Amaradeva needs no blurb - no write-up. With his superb artistry he has achieved that pinnacle of recognition wherein any approbation is redundant. With his silvery voice he has found his way to the hearts of intelligent and discriminating "rasika." He is our artiste without peer.

To speak of Amaradeva is to speak of an epoch in Sinhala music - an era that witnessed the transition from Indian domination to the emergence of a robust music with distinctive national characteristics. Over the past few decades that saw resurgence in Sinhala Culture, Amaradeva as a practising artiste shines as the brightest luminary in the firmament of Sinhala music.

In the quest for a form of music that could truly be called Sinhala, Amaradeva perhaps is best equipped to meet the challenge that confronts our musicians. He is endowed with exceptional talent and sensitivity - that hallmark of a great artiste. With his beginnings in the era when Indian music dominated the local scene, and with his thorough and arduous training in the hallowed seats of learning in India, he is well-versed and disciplined in the great tradition of Indian classical music. With roots well embedded in traditional Sinhala culture, he has the feel for our cultural heritage. Nature has gifted him with a silken voice that never fails to enthral. And to crown them all, he has sophistication and discrimination.

Amaradeva's musical creations speak for themselves. While pundits wage verbal battles regarding what Sinhala music ought to be, he has demonstrated what it could be. His compositions are rich in melodic quality and variety - and while demonstrating the wide range within which his creative talents operate, yet retain the texture of the traditional melodies that formed their source of inspiration. And his fine sensitivity to the poetry of the lyric, contributes in no meagre terms to the final shape his melodies assume.

Regrettably, Amaradeva's achievements in this sphere tends to overshadow his superior calibre as an exponent of classical music. His mastery over the violin is exceptional; and when he sings in classical style it is indeed a rare treat. It is a pity that Amaradeva does not demonstrate his talents in this sphere more frequently. I am sure, all lovers of Indian classical music would certainly welcome more of it.

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Last Update: May 25, 2000