Galle Together with Music and through Music

Ruwani Jayawardana in Daily News, 12 March 2014

The third Galle Music Festival (GMF), organized by the Sevalanka Foundation, Royal Norwegian Embassy Rikskonsertene and Arul Sri Art Theatre, being the message of together via tunes irrespective of colour, race, religion, ethnicity, physical ability or disabilities. The aim of the festival, which is the sister festival to the Jaffna Music Festival (JMF), is to link the north with the south and to set a platform for national and international musicians to showcase their talents and to interact with each other.

Under the concept ‘Music is for all’, the Children’s Festival will take off this year, emphasizing that musical is a universal language which can be experienced and enjoyed by all. It shows that despite cultural diversities, music as an art form encompasses the power of healing. “We will be showcasing a range of music genres: folk, contemporary, classical and fusion. Artistes will be able to experience new techniques which have been practiced in other countries.

This will open doors to new knowledge. They will even get opportunities to tour other nations, ” Malraji Wanniarachchi said. The event will be held on March 14 with a range of specified-participatory arts workshops which will begin from 9 am and go on till 1 pm.

These are for students studying specific fields of art in grade 8 to 13. These comprise: Dance workshop with up country, low country and Sabaragamu dance gurus, drumming workshop with Naadro, music workshop with Musicmatters and vocal training with Tengsing.

Several participatory music workshops too will be held for students from grade 6 to 11.

Artistes too will learn from these events along with the students by interacting and discussing with them. These comprise: Aadivasin, Kaffiers, lyric writing and poetry, Muslim traditional group, Nathaswaram and traditional Tamil drumming, puppets, traditional folk singing, traditional Koothu, dubbing workshop and an art workshop.

Technical training workshops focuses on skill development of advanced level students.

They are a sound engineering workshop and a videography workshop. Musical performances by music groups from Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Norway and Palestine too will be held on an open stage from 9.30 am.

Apart from these activities the team has also planned other forms of activities to keep the children engaged and entertained. There will be a general knowledge program titled ‘Do you know?’, ‘Nature Kids’ – an environment program, face painting, readers club, art wall, magic, masks, tie a balloon, karaoke and mimicking.

The National Nutrition Secretariat will hold an exhibition and create a learning space for children to receive knowledge on nutrition at the event. Children will also be encouraged to take part in an art exhibition titled ‘Music for all’. An award will also be handed over to a person who has done immense service to children in Sri Lanka. This will be the first in an annual event in which an independent committee will vote for an artist, writer, singer, teacher, social worker etc will be felicitated.

The main festival to be held on March 15 at the Moon Bastion, Galle Fort will include performances by five international groups from Norway, Bangladesh, Brazil, India and Palestine.

Local groups like Kolitha Bhanu and the troupe, Nondi Nadagam – Batticaloa, Thriloka, Oriental Music Orchestra, Sokari – Dambula, Tony Hassan and Orchestra- Malay, Tamil Group – Jaffna, Naadro, nATANDA and the Marians will also perform at the Galle Music Festival 2014.

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