Premasiri Khemadasa

Infobox musical artist
Name = Premasiri Khemadasa


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Born = January 25, 1937
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Origin = Sri Lanka
Genre = Sri Lankan music
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Occupation = Music Director
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Premasiri Khemadasa (born January 25, 1937) also known as "Khemadasa Master" is one of the most influential composers in Sri Lankan music. Exploring the various styles of music around the world Khemadasa endeavored to develop a unique style of music. He combined Sinhala folk tunes, Hindustani music, Western music and many other streams of music in his compositions while adapting them to fit contemporary music.

Life and career

Early life

Khemadasa grew up in Talpitiya, Wadduwa and attended Sri Sumangala Vidyalaya and St. John’s College, Panadura. As a teenager, he became a gifted flautist.

Khemadasa was asked to come to the Radio Ceylon for an interview on the day he was scheduled to take his Senior School Certificate examination. He finished the examination much ahead of time and travelled to the audition. He passed the audition and became a member of Radio Ceylon. []

Film composer

Khemadasa debut as a film composer came with Sirisena Wimalaweera's "Roddie Kella". He then began collaborating with acclaimed director Lester James Peries handling the music for films like "Golu Hadawatha" and "Nidhanaya". Critics praised his film scores and he was honorally dubbed "Khemadasa master." Khemadasa's signature in film music is molded by the use of elements from Classical Western music and other sources to heighten the emotion suggested by the picture. Some of his compositions are influenced by Western composers of opera such as Giuseppe Verdi and Vincenzo Bellini. Lately Premasiri Khemadasa has given his contribution to films such as "Agnidahaya" and very recently to "Ammavarune", the last film by Lester James Peiris who has announced his retirement.

Apart from film music Dr. Khemadasa has composed music for teledramas, theatre, etc. His collaboration with director Jayantha Chandrasiri has turned out remarkable products whereas the themes he created for Chandrasiri's television series "Dandubasnamanaya" have shown unprecedented power of mesmerization. He has composed symphonies like "Muhuda" and "Mage kale mavni". The presence of operatic vocals in his music is explained by his vast knowledge of opera. Khemadasa is the only known Sri Lankan musician who practises and creates opera. Khemadasa has a large group of students whom he trains for performing in his operas. His famous operas include "Manasawila" and "Doramandalawa". Recently he created the opera, "Agni" about early civilization. His operas, being written in Sinhalese, forms what can be recognized as Sinhalese opera. Khemadasa and his pupils have conducted shows in several countries.After a layoff following health problems he has returned to the fiels of music. Even in his 70s he perseveres in his field as a giant, trying to secure the future of Sri Lankan music.

References

* [http://www.cbw.cz/phprs/2005020730.html Moving images By Andy Markowitz, 07-02-2005]
* [http://sundaytimes.lk/070527/Plus/pls16.html A man on fire]
* [http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/features/20020126opera_khemadasa.htm Sondura Warnadaasi - an Opera by Khemadasa]
* [http://www.sinhalajukebox.org/cgi-bin/songs.cgi?action=ShowTracks&artist=A206&compose=0&cat=C07 Listen to compositions by Dr. Khemadasa at Sinhala Jukebox]