Tanya Ekanayaka the Internationally celebrated musical talent from Sri Lanka is to perform again at the prestigious St.Martin–in–the–Fields in London on Tuesday November 13th 2012.
At The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 31st May 2012
She is one of Sri Lanka’s foremost classically trained Pianists and also a composer and musicologist in addition to being a highly qualified linguist.
Tanya as she is widely known is performing for the second time in the highly popular Lunch time recital series at St.Martin. In 2010 she was the first Sri Lankan to be invited to perform for this oldest running recital series at St.Martins – Pianists of the World- founded by Dame Myra Hess.
On that occasion Tanya captivated the appreciative audience which was one of the largest recorded for the series.Her programme concluded then with the world premiere of her composition ‘Adahas: of wings of roots’ which was the first composition by a Sri Lankan composer to be performed at St. Martin-in-the-Fields.
A highlight of Tanya’s 45 minute Solo recital on Nov 13 would be the UK premiere of another of her own compositions. Her recital concludes with her 10 minute composition ‘Dhaivaya: Alter(ing) Hue’ which revolves around motifs inspired by the other works in the programme and the Hymn for Sri Lanka also known as Danno Budunge and Jehovah Thou Hast Promised.
The Lunchtime Concert Series gives musicians the opportunity to perform in a professional environment to a large and appreciative audience. Concerts held every Monday, Tuesday and Friday at 1.00pm, feature a refreshing range of performers and repertoire. The concerts are free for all, but a suggested audience donation of £3.50 is greatly appreciated to help fund all aspects of the series and work at St Martin’s.
The Programme for her Piano recital at 1.00 pm on November 13th is as follows-
Beethoven – Piano Sonata No 14 in C sharp minor
Rachmaninov – Prelude in C sharp minor op 3 No 2
Tchaikovsky – Les saisons op 37 (Autumn – Harvest, June – Barcarolle)
Khachaturian – Toccata
Tanya Ekanayaka – Dhaivaya: Alter(ing) Hue
As stated earlier the forthcoming recital will be Tanya’s second appearance at St Martin-in-the-Fields, the first being in 2010 when she performed in its ‘Pianists of the World’ series. A significant feature of that programme in 2010 was the world premiѐre of Tanya’s own composition ‘Adahas: of Wings of Roots’ which was the first Sri Lankan composition to be performed at St Martin-in-the-Fields. This was well received.
This composition is an example of the distinguishing feature of Tanya’s recitals, which include her own compositions representing a novel form of musical fusion alongside works from the classical repertoire. More specifically, her compositions within a recital programme tend to self-consciously adapt indigenous and popular Sri Lankan folk melodies which are then reinterpreted and integrated within musical frameworks inspired by the other works of the same programme.
Tanya regards her compositions as deeply autobiographical ‘moments’ and attributes her compositional style to her multilingual and multicultural backgrounds as well as to being ambidextrous and having partial colour synesthesia.
Tanya debuted in the USA earlier in 2012 with a solo recital at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC which was followed by a performance at the Asia Society Concert Hall in New York. Her programme for her Kennedy Center debut incorporated the world premiere of two of her own compositions which are the first compositions for the piano by a Sri Lankan composer to be performed at the Kennedy Center.
Subsequently a concert manager at St.Martins inviting her to perform in the “Pianists of the World” series. The invitation by itself was an honour as usually prospective participants submitted applications for inclusion in the series. In Tanya’s case it was by invitation.
Tanya is currently on the staff of Edinburgh University in Scotland where she has been teaching in its Departments of Linguistics and Music since 2007.
Tanya begun studying the piano when she was just five years old and made her debut public recital appearance at the age of twelve. Consistent with her interdisciplinary background, Tanya holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Honours degree in English Literature and Linguistics from the University of Peradeniya, a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Linguistics and English Language from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, and a doctorate for interdisciplinary research involving the disciplines of Linguistics and Musicology also from Edinburgh University.
She is a Fellow of the Trinity College of Music London (FTCL), and a Licentiate of both the Associated Board of The Royal Schools of Music (LRSM), and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (LGSMD) UK: the latter also awarded her its Professional Performer’s Diploma (PPD).
What characterizes Tanya as a recitalist is her quintessential recital style. Her recitals have increasingly included her own compositions representing a novel form of musical fusion as well as works from the established classical repertoire ranging from baroque to contemporary works. In this sense, Tanya’s recitals become a discourse where the merging of genres and eras is facilitated – classical with popular and folk song, the historical with the contemporary. As such, her work may be seen as transgressing and in so doing conflating the borders of temporality’.
For further information about Dr. Tanya Ekanayaka please visit:
Dr. Tanya Ekanayaka is contactable at: info@tanyaekanayaka.com
This lunchtime concert is FREE and no ticket is required. Lunchtime concerts last approximately 45 minutes and latecomers will be admitted to the church when there is a suitable break in the programme. A collection is taken at the end of the concert which goes towards the work of St Martin’s.
Sometimes it is necessary to alter programmes and substitute artists at short notice. If you are intending to hear a particular piece or performer, we recommend that you telephone the Box Office (020 7766 1100) on the day of the concert in order to confirm performance details.
Free Lunchtime Piano Recital – Tanya Ekanayaka
Start: November 13, 2012 1:00 pm
End: November 13, 2012 2:00 pm
Venue: St Martin-in-the-Fields
Phone: 020 7766 1100
At The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 31st May 2012