Sri Lankan folk songs which is known as “JANA
GEE” or “JANA KAVI” has been originated
during our olden times by our Sinhalese ancestors.These Sinhalese villagers
used to sing these folk songs while they used to work in paddy fields specially
in the night, and plumbago mines and also while rowing boats, while
transporting goods in bullock carts.These folk songs were spontaneous feelings
which arose in the villagers simple minds, which explained their tiredness and
interest in work and so on… Even the mothers used to sing lullabies for their
children to sleep. All these ideas and words came from their hearts. Jana Gee (folk songs) has played an
important role in the cultural development of the Sri Lankan society. Jana Gee was also an
extension of our Sinhalese language, it had the ability of expressing emotions
and feelings that couldn’t be told just in words.Folk music represents a higher
emotion we all have towards our cultural heritage, our collective history and
our land where our forefathers were born and nourished. Sri Lankan folk poems
were always unique.
Each class had its own styles. There were also folk rituals, which are rarely performed today. Among the traditional Sri Lankan folk styles we could find an interesting style called “”Virindu”. It is an improvised poem sung to the beat of a Rabana (hand drum). In the past there were contests in which two Virindu singers used to compete each other, where one asks questions in Virindu form and the other used to answer it in Virindu form. The words of these traditional songs and poems were carried from generation to generation as in other cultures. Today, they are sung as a form of cultural expression.
I have assembled all
the voice tracks and uploaded them on You Tube. My creation is a sole
collection of original Sinhala folk songs and poems on You Tube. My main aim is
to provide correct information and educate the present and future generations who have lost the chance
of knowing these beautiful folk songs
and poems and to preserve them in the Internet.
Each class had its own styles. There were also folk rituals, which are rarely performed today. Among the traditional Sri Lankan folk styles we could find an interesting style called “”Virindu”. It is an improvised poem sung to the beat of a Rabana (hand drum). In the past there were contests in which two Virindu singers used to compete each other, where one asks questions in Virindu form and the other used to answer it in Virindu form. The words of these traditional songs and poems were carried from generation to generation as in other cultures. Today, they are sung as a form of cultural expression.
“Onchili waram”- another type of Folk
songs which is sung when people go on the swing. These songs were sung by
females mostly and have been handed to us by our forefathers. As I have
mentioned before, people who used to transport goods from village to village
had their own style which was known as “ Karaththa Kavi”…whereas the people who
row boats had their own which was known as “Paaru Kavi”.
“Siw pada” which has the meaning
called four lines, were short folk poems which included four lines. The ancient
villagers were capable enough of expressing his/her innermost feelings in
touchy ways which touched people’s hearts. The voice of these unknown poets are
now memories in our dying culture.
During this long journey of time, our
folk music has been influenced by the prevailing nature of the political
climate, under different kings of Sri Lanka,
due to our close proximity to India we have also got a lot of foreign
influences. The four and a half centuries of colonial domination has also
influenced our culture. Nevertheless, we have been able to maintain the purity
of our Jana Gee.
I have been encouraged to create this
web site to give an opportunity to the present generation of children to
familiarize themselves with these beautiful folk songs which are fading away
from us. Today the Internet is the most popular medium of exchanging
information. When I was thinking about this subject, first I decided to search
and get more information regarding Sri Lankan Folk songs through the Internet.
But there were no web sites to get original audio tracks with folk poems. All
audio tracks were with some music, drums violins and other sounds, some were
directly recorded by stage performances where as some were recorded from
television programs. My need was to hear the audio tracks of original folk
songs (poems) which were sung by villagers. But I could not find any web site with
the real voice of old villagers, elderly persons or with our own folk tones of
folk poems. Folk songs and poems could be narrated and sung without the need of
any musical instrument, because, our old people did not sing these poems with
any background music. That’s why I recorded all folk poems without music. I
went to villages, and spoke with elderly people and visited libraries to gather
more information about the beauty of the true Sri Lankan Folk songs and I have
also recorded their voices with their
own native styles of singing folk songs.To make the people listen to the
beautiful folk songs with the original melody and the exact way it should be
sung, I have recorded the voice of a Sri Lankan artist with the talent of
singing folk songs specially for this web site.I have also produced two 1hour
programs in Video form including discussions and i have uploaded them on you
tube and on my site as well, with the hope of educating the younger generation
and the people interested. They get the opportunity of learning the nativeness
of each category of folk songs and how they are sung.
Our villagers enjoy remembering their beautiful and interesting past memories
and speak about them. Specially the younger generation appreciates these kind
of programs. They are also excited in exploring our own history, cultural
heritage and our language using the Internet. It is useful for new beginners to enter this new e-world through our mother language
specially using Unicode Sinhala fonts.