Opinion

Role in social issues for creative artistes - EDITORIAL

18 Dec 2015 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The role of creative, imaginative musicians and other artistes in reviving Sri Lanka’s historic culture and civilization was underlined by President Maithripala Sirisena when he spoke at the 2015 State Music Awards Festival on Thursday.

The President said creative artistes had the additional gift of understanding and being compassionate towards the suffering and struggles of the impoverished, marginalised and voiceless people. They were able to enter into the struggle and feel the heartbeat of the impoverished people and therefore they had a care and concern that came from the heart. Musicians and other artistes could come forward to play a key role not only in song festivals, films and teledramas but in vital issues such as poverty alleviation, the battle against climate change and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.

One of the world’s greatest philosophers Plato has said music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and charm and gaiety to life and to everything. Echoing these sentiments, the President also said our creative musicians and other artistes could play not only an important national role but also a universal role, if they went beyond the desire for personal gain or glory.

The universality and everlasting value of music and art was also played out on a worldwide scale when the world’s most popular search engine had a Google doodle to mark the 245th year since the worlds greatest musician Ludwig van Beethoven was baptized. Google marked the occasion with a commemorative doodle challenging visitors to put together the composer’s finest creations. Those who visited the Google homepage got an interactive story in which they were asked to put together Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, Für Elise, Moonlight Sonata and Ode to Joy. On his way to the concert hall, a run of bad luck sees Beethoven’s compositions destroyed in various ways and the homepage readers had to arrange sheet music in the correct order to reach the finale.
Ludwig van Beethoven is one of the most famous composers of all time, with the German composer’s symphonies among the most influential classical pieces.

This was despite him losing his hearing in his 30s. By the end of his life aged 56 in 1827, Beethoven was totally deaf.

The healing power of music: Symphony for a longer life and how recreational music- making replaces tension with relaxation was the headline of one of the last articles written by one of Sri Lanka’s greatest editors Rex de Silva, who passed away on November 16.

“If music be the food of Life, play on” is what William Shakespeare wrote while reflecting on his creative thoughts about music’s essential need for humankind. The sound of music is as old as the universe itself. It will continue to be with us forever as it helps fine tune our harmony of life, Rex says.
Music, the universal language of the world, transcends boundaries and brings people together. It is the food of love, heals body and soul and stirs myriads of emotions from within.

We use music to communicate. It could change the emotional and physical status of people, making them good, bad or sad. When mood changes occur, behaviour patterns are established. No wonder people use cliché’s like hitting the right chord.

Taking a cue from the great Bard, neurologist Dr. Barry Bittman is taking music to higher notes with a symphony that makes people live longer and happier with a sound mind and sound body, the late editor says.

Dr Bittman has pioneered a new paradigm for treating the “whole person.” His approach has been featured in numerous leading publications throughout the world.

The non-traditional style of recreational music-making (RMM) gives us a sense of artistry and empowerment through the creative spirit. RMM helps strike a healthy lifestyle and its benefits are three-fold: Improves quality of life, helps participants be relaxed and respond in positive ways to stress and enhances immune-system function. So make mine music.

Opinion

Role in social issues for creative artistes - EDITORIAL

Most Popular Articles

Why Countries Are Banning Children from Social Media and What It Means for Sri Lanka

How far does the political-underworld nexus extend in Sri Lanka?

Detention Rights: Sri Lanka and the United States

Economic growth is not the only measure of human development

Chemmani still holds our attention

The narrowing window: Small-state agency in an age of multipolar scenario

Latest News

Four die in Mexico City World Cup celebrations

SLAF executes heroic CASEVAC mission

CSE ends mixed after technical delay curtails trading session

Central Bank warns public over prohibited pyramid schemes

Badulla Alugolla fire spreads over 20 acres