By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
TOURING composer Darshana Ruwan Dissanayaka has made a name for himself by taking Sri Lankan folk music to new frontiers.
This Saturday he and an orchestra will perform in Hampton Park in what he said was “not a traditional concert”, loftily named The Musician’s Soul.
Dissanayaka’s folk music blends Western music techniques to create symphonies, operas and fusions.
“There is a limit to what can be achieved by any good song composition,” he said.
“Music travels way beyond those limits and reaches the hearts and minds of people.
“Mozart from the 18th century, Yanni from our age are good examples.”
He said he would perform his most popular compositions, Iki Gasa Handana and Mei Tharam Siyumalida Kalugal.
“It is sad that our rich culture and its music were buried amongst many other good things in the history.
“It is time to explore and find those riches and present it to our nation and the rest of the world what we are capable of and all the good things of our own music in a way the international community understands using the techniques like operas.”
Dissanayaka said he planned to conduct workshops in Melbourne on music and musical instruments.
The concert has been organised by the Australia-Sri Lanka Cultural Association.
It is at 6pm on Saturday at Rivergum Performing Arts Centre, Hampton Park.
Bookings from Neil on 0438 651 238 or Shantha on 0432 653 750.
