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Baila composition: Sada Sulang Hamane piano instrumental by Vidathra Patabendige
Sri Lankan music is distinguishable from other forms of music originating from different parts of the world. Baila 6/8 music is one of the oldest developed during the Portuguese colonial period in Sri Lanka between the 15th and 16th centuries. Modern-day Baila 6/8 music is heavily blended into Sri Lankan culture and day to day life. It is hugely popular, played at every party, fun-filled dance music style, and is part of Sri Lankan identity.
Then early 1940's a new Sri Lankan genre of music called classical (Subawitha in the Sinhalese language) evolved from compositions of late Sri Lanka musicians Sunil Santha and Ananda Samarakoon. Their music style is poetically infused with the long history of Sri Lankan literature and traditional sounds. Sunil Santha did a lot of experiments with music to develop this genre up to the early 1970s. His students and followers like Amaradeva, Patrick Dennipitiya, PLA Somapala, RA Rocksamy, Victor Rathnayake and others developed this style further. Olu Pipila is widely regarded as the first classical Sri Lankan authentic composition created by maestro Sunil Santha in the early 1940s. Then from the early 1970s, musicians like Clarence Wijewardana, Stanley Peiris, Victor Dalugama pioneered a blended pop genre in Sri Lankan music.
Sri Lanka classical composition: Olu pipila instrumental by Sachithra Patabendige
What is Sri Lankan genuine Baila music?
By Sachithra Patabendige
Baila music is mainly a 6/8 time signature-based Sri Lankan music genre most Sri Lankans embrace, especially at parties. We think this style of our music is our own, and some people believe they were brought by the Portuguese and called 'Baila' or 'Kaffrinha'. But what are authentic Sri Lankan 6/8's? First of all, let's understand what the 6/8 style is? It's a music time signature, a count of six quavers to each bar. Sri Lankan genuine 6/8 style songs have a distinct sound from other music genres.
One of the pioneers of Sri Lankan 6/8 is considered to be the famous singer 'Wally Bastiansz'. He is identified as Baila king. His style had a considerable influence from 'Kafringha' tunes sung by descendants of African slaves brought to Sri Lanka by the Portuguese in the 16th century. Most Wally Bastiansz songs had 'Kafringha' influence, and some of the hits were based on popular American and English oldies. For example, 'Hai hui Babi Achchige baisikel eka' is a copy from 'Repasz Band' composed by Charles Sweeney, then Pun Sanda Pāya Moratuwa Dilennā another copy from 'On the Beach of Bali Bali', a Hawaiian song.
Then, what are genuine Sri Lankan baila compositions? Who created them? Based on evidence from available old recordings, it looks like the founders of authentic Sri Lankan 6/8's songs are BS Perera (Sumihiri Pane 1944 hit) and Sunil Santha (1946 hit Kokilayange, first original recording of SLBC of this style). RAC, known as R A Chandrasena, developed this style into a new Sri Lankan music art form with some famous Nihal Nelson and M S Fernandos classic 6/8 compositions. Then a massive contribution to the development of Sri Lankan 6/8 style music was also made by Clarence Wijewardena with a unique Sri Lankan drum and rhythm guitar style. Songs such as මංගෝ කලු නැන්දේ (Mango Kalu Nande), Udarata niliya had a wage show this uniqueness. The exciting thing is that both RAC and Clarence never underwent formal music training like BS Perera and Sunil Santha. Later many composers did genuine Sri Lankan 6/8's without copying tunes from other countries, further contributing to the development of this unique Sri Lankan music style.access full article here
