Harsha Makalande

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Harsha Makalande was born in 1955 and started studying western classical music at the age of six years, while living at his grandfathers house in Ettul Kotte, [Sri Lanka]]. His aunt Anne Makalande, who was a brilliant Classical, Pop, and Jazz Pianist, and mother Sita Makalande(nee de Lanerolle) were the main sources of inspiration. Young Makalande was driven with the idea of "doing something for Sri Lanka", as he took serious note of what his great grandfather, John de Silva (1857-1922) had achieved. John de Silva was probably the greatest playwright that Sri Lanka ever produced.

Music had an important part to play in the 'Nurti' plays of John de Silva.To create the required music, Vishvanath Louji of India, was invited by the plawright. Songs such as "Siri Sangabodhi Maligawedi" (now used by rap artistes), the evergreen "Danno Budunge" (palyed as the National Anthem of Ceylon at the Olympics) 65.93.63.181 20:01, 3 April 2007 (UTC), "Mage Mandri Nam Bisoge" are just three titles out of hundreds. Sam Makalandage de Silva, who was a son of a brother of John de Silva was also an influence on him. M.Sam de Silva was an exponent of the Indian Ragadhari music, and corresponded regularly with the great Rabindranath Tagore. As a child, Harsha visited Sam de Silva at his house opposite Mahindarama Road in Ettul Kotte, and was requested by his grand uncle to try out the big harmonium with pedals that sat proudly in his mansion. The boy saw his elderly relation creating Raga based melodies with an imaginary violin that he was holding! Of course he was an accomplished Oriental violinist in his own right, though sometimes he did not need the violin to compose melodies! Sam de Silva created hundreds of melodies.Though his base was Indian music, the spirit of his music embodied an enduring love for his mother country Lanka. To encourage the Colombo based western educated society to appreciate oriental music , he wrote a book on the Raga system in the english language. The book called "Sam's Music Tutor", was sent to Tagore in India where the great man directed the principal of Shantiniketan to include it in the collection of texts. The letter which Tagore sent to Sam de Silva thanking him for the text book, is in the possession of the Makalande family. It reads as follows(with the exact script used):-

Shantiniketan

Sep.8.1935

Dear Desilva,

I have just received your Sam's Music Tutor for which I thank you. It will be useful for our music classes in this Ashram and I have given it to the Principal of our Music Department who appreciates it,

Yours Sincerely

RabindranathTagore

[edit] External Links

[Harshamakalande.com] Template:List of Sri Lankan musicians