result
was superb dance rhythms and beats that adapted 6/8 beat. Their music is called
'Kaffrinha'."
Goonewardane
explained that the late Wally Bastiansz was a Ceylonese police officer who served the
force
during 1940s and was a musician attached to the Police Band.
"He
adapted 6/8 Kaffrinha songs and beats into the native Ceylonese (now Sri Lankan) language
Sinhalese,
and created the Sri Lankan dance music called 'Baila.' It is a Portuguese word, and the
meaning
is 'Dance'... Wally Bastiansz is regarded as the 'God Father of Sri Lankan Baila.' "
While
serving in the Police Band, Bastiansz adapted many 6/8 Western tunes into his Baila
compositions.
One
of the compositions is based on the "Repasz Band March" and is still a hit more
than 70 years after
its
creation.
"Baila
songs often don't have proper meaning, and it can generally be about anything, and rhythm
is
what
matters most," Goonewardane wrote. "Wally's song is called 'Hai Hooi Babi
Archchi.' Hai Hooi is
merely
a form of expression such as modern-day 'yee ha.' Babi Archchi means Granny Babi. The song
is
about
an eccentric woman called Babi, and how boys and girls rounded her up, dancing and ringing
the
bell
of her bicycle."
Goonewardane
dedicated a channel on YouTube for old Sri Lankan music in an effort to preserve and pass
them
on to the younger generation that may be found at www.youtube.com/user/goonewj.
After
receiving the e-mail, Nacinovich shared the information with band members during a
practice and
looked
into the links provided by Goonewardane.
"I
listened to the 'Babi Archchi' and Desmond De Silva recordings," he replied to
Goonewardane. "I can
readily
see why this style of music has been such a success for dancing music. It is full of
energy and fun
-
and the Repasz tune fits the style very well."
Nacinovich
said that several years ago, while watching the television show, "M*A*S*H," one
of the
characters
was singing a tune while tying trout fly lures that was the first strain of the
"Repasz Band
March"
and the same tune used in "Babi Archchi."
"While
we have known for many years that the tunes of our 'Repasz Band March' had worked their
way
into
the cultural heritage of America in the first half of the 20th century, we had no idea
that Sri Lanka
shared
them as well," Nacinovich replied to Goonewardane.
"We
know that the 'Repasz Band March' is played by bands all around the world, as well as
being among
the
most popular marches in the history of the USA. Earlier in the 20th century, it was
hummed, whistled
and
sung by millions across the country," Nacinovich said. "It has been played by
bands of all types,
parlor
pianos, circus calliopes, merry-go-round organs, etc. Up until hearing from the gentlemen
from Sri
Lanka
we had no idea of how significant the tune - actually, the first strain of the march - was
to the
culture
of another country."
According
to band member Nancy Eischeid, the "March" first was copywrited in 1901 and the
band has
been
performing it since that time.
On
the band's Web site, Gene Bardo, a musician and former member who wrote about the band in
1983
for
The Instrumentalist magazine, wrote that "The 'Repasz Band March' is the second most
played march
in
the world, exceeded in number of performances only by Sousa's 'Stars and Stripes Forever.'
"
Nacinovich
also received an e-mail from a Dr. Ruwan De Soysa, a pediatrician in the United Kingdom
and
friend
of Goonewardane, who has family in the Philadelphia area and was interested in attending a
Repasz
Band
practice.
"As
a Sri Lankan, I am eternally grateful to the Repasz Band, especially the composer of the
'March,' " De
Soysa
wrote.
Eischeid
said De Soysa plans on giving a small lecture on the history of their music during the
week of
March
27. During the visit on March 30 at City Hall, the Sri Lanken Literary Club in the North
West of
England
will present a commemoration plaque to the band, to celebrate their contribution to Sri
Lankan
pop
music, De Soysa said.
"Indeed
we are excited to have them come and share their indigenous musical connections,"
Eischeid
said.
"Dr. De Soysa indicated he would be taping the band performing the 'Repasz Band
March.' "
The
band has about 60 to 70 active members, Eischeid said, so it should be a lively event.
Because
the rehearsal space is limited, opening Dr. DeSoysa's presentation to the public would not
be
practical,
Nacinovich said.
The
band's next public performance is its Spring Concert at 7:30 p.m. April 27 at the
Community Arts
Center,
220 W. Fourth St.
For
more information, visit www.lycoming.org/
RepaszBand.
To
hear "Babi Archchi," visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgXjv
wcX_k. |
