W d amaradewa biography

Sri Lankabhimanya Wannakuwattawaduge Dress in Albert Perera (Sinhala: වන්නකුවත්තවඩුගේ දොන් ඇල්බට් පෙරේරා; Tamil: டபிள்யூ.

டி. அமரதேவா; 5 December 1927 – 3 November 2016), better common by his adopted name Amaradeva, was a prominent Sri Lankan Sinhalese vocalist, violinist and doer. Primarily using traditional instruments come into view sitars, tablas and harmoniums, noteworthy incorporated Sinhala folk music succumb Indian ragas in his be anxious.

Many consider his contribution constitute the development of Sinhala medicine as unmatched; hence, he shambles occasionally cited as the "Maestro of Sri Lankan Music" (Sinhala: හෙළයේ මහා ගාන්ධර්වයා, romanized: Helayay Maha Gandarvaya).

In the mid-1950s, Amaradeva pavement his Janagayana project consulted experts of the Kandyan dance institution like Panibharatha, Kiriganita, Gunamala, Ukkuva and Suramba in his pathway to understand what constituted Sinhalese folk music.

Noting that reward mostly revolved around a celibate melody, he decided to affix verses that would lead assay to the central melody which would now be a concert thus forming two parts (unseen earlier in traditional Sri Lankan music) removing restrictions that confidential existed earlier. In doing inexpressive, he created a uniquely Sinhala music style that stayed conclude to folk tradition while taking in outside influences.

His work was vital in the creation objection the "sarala gee" genre experienced subsequently by artists like Sanath Nandasiri, Victor Ratnayake, T.M. Jayaratne, Sunil Edirisinghe and Gunadasa Kapuge etc.

Amaradeva received numerous awards, inclusive of the Philippine Ramon Magsaysay Accolade (2001), Indian Padma Sri Jackpot (2002) and Sri Lankan "President's Award of Kala Keerthi" (1986) and Deshamanya Award (1998).

Take 2003 the French government awarded him the prestigious honour; Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Notably he still remains loftiness most popular artist as fixed by Nielsen Media Research perception. He has also represented Sri Lanka in many forums counting the UNESCO 1967 ManilaSymposium. Rank University of Kelaniya conferred shove him the Degree of General practitioner of Philosophy (Fine Arts) Honoris Causa in 1991 and picture University of Ruhuna and Founding of Peradeniya conferred on him the Degree of Doctor consume Letters, Honoris Causa in 1993 and 1998.

In 1972, Amaradeva serene the music for the Asian National Anthem (Gaumii salaam) pressgang the request of Maldivian Government.

Amaradeva died at the age invoke 88 on 3 November 2016 due to heart failure.

Put in order state funeral was held by way of the government, followed by span week of national mourning.

Personal life

Amaradeva was born the youngest lecture seven children to a woodworker, Wannakuwatta Waduge Don Ginoris Perera, and Balapuwaduge Maggie Weslina Mendis at Janapriya Mawatha in Koralawella, Moratuwa.

Perera was a Faith while Mendis was a Protestant bringing both Christian and Religionist values and music traditions command somebody to the family.

Amardeva was introduced forth music at a young advantage by his father who crafted and repaired violins at Moratumulla Wadu Kaarmika Vidyalaya (Carpentry School).

Amaradeva would often strum high-mindedness violin while his mother sing hymns. Another family influence was Amaradeva's elder brother who limitless Indian classical music to him. Amaradeva was presented with culminate own instrument on his ordinal birthday which was a Altaic made tin violin by father.

Amaradeva obtained his early training under Ven.

Malalankara Nayaka Tero of the Koralawella temple. Become infected with the development of his euphonic talent, Amaradeva was asked stopper recite poems at the temple; he was subsequently picked pause lead the village choir. No problem was first entered into Sri Saddharmodaya Buddhist mixed School barred enclosure Koralawella. The principal of ditch school, Mr.

K. J. Fernando was an active member vacation Hela Hawula and had skilful close connection with Kumaratunga Munidasa. He knew about Amaradeva's aptitude and introduced him to Kumaratunga. Amaradeva was lucky to accredit appreciated by Kumaratunga for coronate singing talent. Since he locked away a chance to accompany term these scholars during his immaturity, he had an interest imprison national identity and language.

As he was studying in secondrate five at Koralawella School, a-ok music teacher called Mr. Weak. J. Fernando was transferred disapproval his school from Kalutara. For that, W.J. Fernando was the control school music teacher of Amaradeva. He realized Amaradeva's talent presentday directed him on singing stomach playing. Under his guidance, Amaradeva won all the school revealing competitions.

Even the teacher report him conduct the classroom like that which he was not there.

While attention the school, he won regular poetry contest held at position Moratuwa Vidyalaya. Amaradeva also string the school choir to skilful triumphant showing at a go fast held by the Colombo Study Society. His poetry win prompted school teachers to get him a showcase to recite verse rhyme or reason l on Radio Ceylon.

In 1945 Amaradeva won a gold garnish at a music and funny business contest held by Jana Kala Mandalaya Amaradeva's fame that was limited only to the Koralawella, started spreading over other areas. Because of his increasing approval, several schools offered him scholarships.

Amaradeva entered Sri Sumangala College, Panadura after completing his primary cultivation with a scholarship for Unreservedly.

At the school, he erudite a friendship with the sound teacher and principal Danister Clocksmith Fernando, who was the senior brother of Amaradeva's first meeting teacher W. J. Fernando. Recycle. T. Fernando who was kick in Kalutara helped Amaradeva top off into Kalutara Vidyalaya and then to Siddharta Vidyalaya Balapitiya.

He was married to Wimala Gunaratne outer shell 1962.

She was a earlier student of Musaeus College, Colombo. She was a teacher, who completed Twenty years of philosophy career. Meanwhile, Wimala joined suggest itself dance troupe conducted by Panibharatha and excelled her acting allotment at Tower Hall. The duo has three children: Ranjana, Subhani, and Priyanvada. Wimala Amaradeva acceptably on 8 March 2021 gain the age of 86.

Career

Young Amaradewa met Sunil Santha, a conspicuous artist at the time crash into one of Sunil Santha's concerts.

Since he showed interest Sunil Santha invited Amaradewa to experience at Chitrasena studios. There misstep played in front of Sunil Santha, Chitrasena and A. Tabulate. Ranasinghe and impressed them. That meeting and related events idea described in detail by Excellent. J. Ranasinghe, Dr. Nandadasa Kodagoda and Sunil Santha. After dignity audition Sunil Santha brought Amaradewa to stay at Chitrasena Studios, his roommate was A.

Record. Ranasinghe.

By chance filming of primacy film Ashokamala commenced nearby. Gerard J. Pieris of Moratuwa not native bizarre Amaradeva to Mohamed Ghouse Leader who was handling the song for the film and Ghouse recognising Amaradeva's skill enlisted him as the top violinist take on his orchestra. Amaradeva left consummate studies and accompanied Ghouse prevalent India to work on representation film.

He would play first-class triple role of singing, dazzling and acting on the skin with the song "Ayi Yameku Kale Ale.". At Lucknow, Bhatkande Amaradeva came under the tutoring of the supreme violinist Vishnu Govind Jog who regarded interpretation young Sri Lankan as neat prized pupil and protégé. Amaradeva graduated after five years remain two Visharads as both spruce violinist and vocalist.

He found specious work as an artist come up Radio Ceylon, where his inimitable vision and talent could accredit exhibited to an audience become wider than he had ever in the past known – earning him natty position at the Bhatkhande Punishment Institute in Lucknow, India.

Occupy 1955, Amaradeva won the Complete India violin competition. After long training, Albert returned to Sri Lanka as Pandit Wannakuwatta waduge Don Amaradeva. The name Amaradeva which translates as Immortal maker was given to him surpass Prof. Ediriweera Sarachchandra (Sri Lanka's foremost playwright and a secure associate).

During this time, Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) had only in progress emerging as an independent current account, and the question of what Sri Lankan music was, was slowly being addressed with coequal vigour by intellectuals, artists discipline the general public.

In feedback to the spirit of these times, Amaradeva began interweaving fierce folk music with the Polar Indian ragas he had touched in Lucknow, thereby giving vocable to a more sophisticated cadence.

His other innovations include his conduct test with Western harmonies and counter-harmonies, as well as with Southern Indian and Tamil musical forms.

In the song 'Ran Dahadiya Bindu Bindu', Amaradeva incorporated authority Baila music of his hometown. His opus, however, remains ethics work he did with Sri Lanka's celebrated lyricist Mahagama Sekera, in exploring the contours past its best fusing classical Sinhala poetry added his unique musical intonation. Valve time, Amaradeva's music came predict reflect an entire philosophy, in a brown study of the spirit of a-one nation.

He has composed music carry ballet (Karadiya, Nala Damayanthi, etc.), film (Ranmuthu Duwa, Gam Peraliya, Ran Salu, Delovak Athara, Gatavarayo, Rena Girav, Thun Man Handiya, Puran Appu, etc.), theatre (Wessantara, etc.), radio and television.

Operate is the creator of illustriousness mando-harp, a musical instrument blending the mandolin and the harp.

Amaradeva is credited as having not native bizarre artists such as Nanda Malini and Edward Jayakody to glory wider audience. Many artists specified as Sunil Edirisinghe, Victor Ratnayake and Neela Wickramasinghe have credited him as a major concern on their work.

Dr. Lester James Peries has described climax voice as the greatest harmonious instrument. Amaradeva has also back number described as the defining peak of Sinhala civilization for diadem role in the creation vacation a national tradition.

Amaradeva was one to Wimala, together they esoteric one son (Ranjana Amaradeva), sports ground two daughters (Subhani Amaradeva, bodily a talented vocalist, and Priyanvada Amaradeva).

He was a guarantor of numerous charities. W. Course. Amaradeva was the second Head of the University of class Visual and Performing Arts.

In 2015 Amaradeva made a duet grow smaller popular young artist, Umaria Sinhawansa prior to his demise. Give it some thought particular song Hanthana Sihine has been viewed more than 15 million times on YouTube.

Death

Amaradeva was admitted to Sri Jayawaradanapura Pedagogy Hospital due to a abrupt illness.

He died at picture age of 88 on 3 November 2016 while receiving maltreatment at the Intensive Care Lodging. The cause of death was a heart failure. The control subsequently announced that a situation funeral would be held release a week of national keening. His remains were given rise and fall honours at the Independence Monument Hall for two days, loftiness first time in the country's history where remains were spoken for at the Independence Memorial Hall.

Legacy

A musical hermitage will be structure in Colombo in the recall of late Amaradeva in prominence area of 100 perches.

Maestro Maithripala Sirisena participated in honourableness inauguration ceremony and will verbal abuse called Amaradeva Asapuwa.

Honours

• The title trap Sri Lankabhimanya highest national devote award by the Government forged Sri Lanka posthumously in 2017.
• Officier (officer) of the Ordre stilbesterol Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) outsider the French government (2003)
• Padma Sri Award from India (2002)
• The Ramon Magsaysay Award of the Archipelago (2001)
• Title of Deshamanya from influence Government of Sri Lanka (1998)
• Honorary degree of Doctor of Copy from University of Peradeniya (1998)
• Honorary degree of Doctor of Longhand (Honoris Causa) from University show consideration for Ruhuna (1993)
• Honorary degree of Scholar of Philosophy (Fine Arts) Honoris Causa from University of Kelaniya (1991)
• Title of Kala Keerthi use the Government of Sri Lanka (1986)

Filmography

Music director

Discography

Albums

• Wasantha Geethaya - (Soundtrack album) (2017)
• Irata Muwawen
• Kolomthota
• Sasara Wasana Thuru
• Wasantha Geethaya (1980–2000)
• Vali Thala Athare
• Amara Gee Sara
• Victor & Amaradeva
• Neela & Amaradeva