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| Sunday, 8 August 2004 |
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One person who is overjoyed that she contributed towards the success of the Senior Choir of Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya when they won second place in the Youth Choir Category at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales recently, is none other than our living legend Mignonne. Her song the now famous Mangala Mohotha was submitted by the Choir directress Soundarie David as a song from the country of origin of the choir, a song by a living composer according to the criteria of the competition. This is the first time a choir has sung your song on an international competition stage what is your reaction? I am delighted and proud of the choir. In the present global musical context when ethnic music is in the forefront it was a wise choice by Soundarie David. She requested me to write the score and I wrote in the chords and the melody line so that she could send the manuscript in to the authorities of the Festival for selection. Further I gave her a copy of my CD and told her to feel free in making adjustments in the arrangement. After some rehearsals she invited me to come along and listen to the choir sing the song. It was a marvellous feeling to hear this wonderful choir of about 37 voices sing the song in the plaintive arrangement. I introduced certain accompaniments to the whole and deep down I had the feeling the song won't let them down because of the happiness it spreads. When in 1972 I went along with Tony my husband to EMI studios with the demos they told me "you have something there" for this particular song and requested me to meet Jimmy Phillips who was tough as nails. He wanted me to come back in nine days with the finished product and when I hesitated for a moment he told me very significantly "in nine days you can do for yourself what people stand at our door and wait for nine years to do". I went back in nine days and EMI recorded it. The rest is history. That's why I told Soundarie "take the magic of the song and use it". I copy righted the song in UK in KTM 1972 as Mangala Mohotha and The Ceylonese Wedding Song. The Sinhala lyrics were by Karunaratne Abeysekera while I wrote the English lyrics." You had some copyright problems to cope with? I am delighted to see that copyright laws are in effect now. I have not given permission for commercial recordings of the song. I'm sure civic conscious law abiding citizens will have respect for a professional. What of the future, will you move into composing? 'Yes, I would like to. At the moment I give classes in composing techniques and it is very encouraging the many students who wish to avail themselves of my artistry. The grapevine tingles with the news of a concert? "I am hoping to stage one next year, working with leading musicians in the city - it is going to be something spectacular". What about the Jetliner re-union concert? The concert is being discussed. Ex-Jetliner Anton Gunawijaya from London is liaising with a Sri Lanka promoter, I hope it will be a reality". |
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