NO. 61. — 1908.] KANDYAN MUSIC. 



129 



KANDYAN MUSIC* 



By Mahawalatenn^ Bandar. 



Kandyan music is Sinhalese music. f In later Kandyan 

 times, in the maritime provinces, the ancient system of music 

 began to decline owing to various causes which cannot be 

 discussed in a short essay such as this. In place of the ancient 

 music the low-country Sinhalese began to adopt the borrowed 

 Nddagam and Hindustani tunes imported from Southern 

 India, and the rabdna, dole, violin, and accordion displaced 

 the ancient musical instruments. Later on, in the upper 

 circles, the piano displaced the rabdna. One does not now 

 often hear " kapirinna " and " baild kapirinna " songs to the 

 tunes of the rawkinna and the dole. Hindustani vritas have 

 displaced them, but the change is not to be regretted. The 

 following are Hindustani vritas :— 



(1) Rdjd wo mai kaw makd, Indara me Rdjd. 



(2) J ulata rd te san — sagira tera julata rd te sari. 



Most of our muddarappada songs are of the above and 

 similar tunes. 

 Here is a specimen of Kaprinna tunes 



Lala lala — la lala — lala lala — la. 



We have no ancient tunes that correspond with the above. 



It is curious why the ancient tunes were rejected by a section 

 of the Sinhalese in favour of such as the above. Perhaps it is 

 a matter of taste, and tastes often differ. 



The Kandyans however stuck to their native music ; and 

 although we have only a very few really clever musicians at 

 the present day, it can be said that the ancient science has 

 not yet become extinct. 



* Abridged from a. voluminous Paper by the writer, who is respon- 

 sible for proof corrections. — B., Hon. Sec. 



t As I know absolutely nothing of Western music, it is a matter of 

 great difficulty to write an accurate explanation or a correct account 

 of Sinhalese music. Having some knowledge of Kandyan Tdla Sdstra, 

 in which I took some interest in the past, and a very large collection 

 of manuscripts, the Society's notice calling for an essay tempted me 

 to undertake the work, for which I confess I am but little qualified. 



