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Baila: A Sri Lankan Folk Music – By Randika Jayakody & Jerome Perera source : Qld Sri Lankan Newsletter – Dæhæna – November 2023 Baila was the fortuitous creation bringing together the multicultural communities that existed during the time of Portuguese Ceylon. It famously combined the influences of Afro Rhythms, Portuguese violins and guitars, Malay drums, and the Sinhalese, Tamil, and English languages. Evolving out of Kaffringha, the progenitor of Baila, this musical genre is iconic of Sri Lankan culture. Portuguese arrival in Ceilao (Ceylon) is dated to 1505 and no clear date can be identified when the musical style evolved, but it is safe to say that this means Baila is therefore at least 500 years old.This makes Baila one of the oldest continuous musical styles in Sri Lanka, predating more classical styles of music by centuries. There are several forms of Baila including Papare and Calypso Baila, Waada Baila ...

Nov 1, 2023 Posted by In Articles Tagged , , , , , , , ,
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A Resume of Des Kelly ( as supplied by his son) KELLY, Desmond Anthony Carl (Des), born July 2, 1936, Colombo, Ceylon. Early education 1941, at Convent of Our Lady of Victories, Moratuwa, Secondary education at St Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya, Colombo. At the age of 5 he sang his first solo on-stage for the Convent’s Annual Concert. At 10 years of age he met Wally Bastiensz, who taught him the art of singing baila. He won his first professional baila competition on-stage, although he hadn’t a clue as to what he was actually singing about. At St Peter’s College, he joined the Music, Art & Drama Society under Fr Noel Crusz, OMI. . He continued with both singing and acting in various roles and taught himself to play the ukulele. He started his own Christmas-Carol Party at Lorensz Road, Bambalapitiya. In 1950,  an English circus troupe came to Ceylon under contract ...

Apr 30, 2023 Posted by In Articles, DESMOND KELLY Tagged , , , ,
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The roots of music in Sri Lanka has five primary influences ancient folk NADEEKA GURUGE GUITARIST,COMPOSER, VOCALIST, AWARD WINNING PHENOMINAL MUSIC DIRECTOR  AT THE HELM OF FAME -by SunilThenabadu   The roots of music in Sri Lanka has the primary  influences in ancient folk rituals. Hinduism religious traditions, Buddhist religious customs, the heritage of European colonisation, the antique and commercial of neighboring Indian philosophy precisely Kollywood and Bollywood cinema. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive in Sri Lanka in the sixteenth century with their traditional music along with Africans to spread their own style of music called ‘baila”.The influence of both European and African traditions served to further diversify the musical roots of the contemporary Sri Lanka music.  As opposed to European classical concert music, folk music was the music of the common people. Folk music was derived from the German word “volk”, which essentially means “ the people”. Folk music ...

Mar 22, 2022 Posted by In Articles, Sunil Thenabadu Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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“Connect with 2nd Connection” by Des Kelly  Just received this 1st class video from the superb band  2nd Connection c/w Vocalist Chandimal & undoubtedly beautiful Sri Lankan lasses doing the “baila” as it should be done. My good friend Maxie Gerreyn sent this to me, so thank you Maxie. I did make a comment that this “baila- session would be featured on eLanka shortly, so here goes.      The actual song is a very well-known baila, a rather lengthy version of it, sung & danced in the inimitable baila fashion, but done extremely well. Everyone, Sri Lankan knows that when such a “session” is started at a dance, party, or any other social gathering, the band involved, has to carry-on, for at least 10 minutes so that all the one-eyed baila dancers get their fill, on the dance floor. This is very important. No baila-dancer wants to resume their ...

Oct 1, 2018 Posted by In Articles, DESMOND KELLY Tagged , Comments 0
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