Run With the Beat

The sun sets on a hot tropical day, the afternoon heat swept into the dusk by the cool night air of the sea. Along the coast, a line of hotels, beachside cafes and restaurants start to buzz with anticipation. Fiery torches, fighting hard against the constant wind, stand proudly in the long bed of sand before their respective entranceways, waiting to welcome visitors as the music of the night ensues. The rhythm has begun, smooth, flowing, in time with the surf, periodically accented by untamed charms and wind chimes. The band is ready. Under the shelter of a thatched roof and a couple of palm trees a man picks up the beat, his drum resting against his sarong clad knees whilst his mates keep pace with their feet. The rhythm is in control, the drummer, bending the music to his will.

In the urban jungles of Colombo the city starts to unwind, the elite enjoying their happy hour in the company of a live Jazz band. Blue-collar workers unbuttoning their shirts and letting loose to Bathiya and Santhush, whilst elsewhere Tukkies moonlight as DJ’s, bringing baila to the streets through their parked vehicles. Sounds of a Conch Shell and Thammattama spread from the outskirts of the city; playing heartbeats from city to village and igniting sparks of movement and expression across the island.

Sri Lankan music has its roots going back to centuries, encompassing cultural nuances introduced over time by various island colonisers. Each European nation that came to occupy the country, left a significant mark on the island’s own cultural identity, and influences from both the West and

East have resulted in a musical culture that simply bursts with diversity and flavour, from mainstream baila to refined opera. Traditional Sri Lankan music, generally extends from ancient folk rituals, religious observances, and historical influences. Early forms of art, music and dance were derived from ritualistic responses to natural phenomenon. Most of the Sri Lanka’s earliest folk music took on religious and philosophical themes with the establishment of Buddhism.

Like many other folk cultures, Sri Lankan folk music mirrors life in the rural country, through poetic songs, also known as Kavi. They often express emotions pertaining to an ancient ritualistic lifestyle, sung by villagers engaged in communal activity.