{"id":58318,"date":"2021-11-14T01:11:42","date_gmt":"2021-11-14T06:11:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=58318"},"modified":"2021-11-14T21:49:54","modified_gmt":"2021-11-15T02:49:54","slug":"lucky-aiya-known-also-as-apey-lucky-and-his-indelible-footprints-in-childrens-music-sphere-of-sri-lanka","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=58318","title":{"rendered":"“Lucky Aiya” Also Known as ” Apey Lucky\u201d and his Indelible Footprints in the Children\u2019s Music Sphere of Sri Lanka"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Veteran musician, singer and actor Lakshman Wijesekera has passed away at the age of 73. This article was posted on this Blog first on March 13th 2018.It is being re-posted without any changes here as tribute to the ever popular Lucky Aiya.)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

by Prof.Theodore Warnakulasuriya <\/strong>
\n Open University of Sri Lanka.<\/em><\/p>\n


\n
\n\u201cSome people come into our lives
\nand quickly go.
\nSome stay for a while and leave
\n Footprints in our heart
\nAnd we are never, ever the same\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

T<\/strong>o those who know him closely, \u201cApe luckiya,\u201d \u201cLucky ayiya\u201d , or \u201cApe Lucky\u201d are some of the special, sentimental and fond nick names they use to talk about Mr. Luxman, Wijesekera. All of us know Luxman as a popular and well known singer, and a composer of music, especially for Children. Further, Luxmanis an extremely talented,Television drama producer, an advertising director and a singer of solo and duets which are very popular today. My good friend late\u201csome\u201d, (Mr, Somapala HewaKapuge) always referred to Luxmanas \u201cApe lukiya\u201d fondly whenever he spoke about him. My association with Mr. Luxman Wijesekera, is more than 20 years, and I consider that it is a great privilege to write a short felicitation about LuxamanWijesekera and his contribution to the Children\u2019s Music in Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n

His parents were late Mr. Walter Wijesekera and late Mrs. Daisy GeterueWijesekara. He studied firstly at Anuradapura Central College, and Maliyadeva College in Kurunegala. Later he got admission to Government College of Music (Hewood) and received his first appointment, as a music teacher in Welusumana Vidyalaya. After a stint in Anuradapura, Luxman joined and taught music at Isipathna College and D.S.Senanayake Colleges in Colombo. In 1975,as an auditioned singer of Sri Lanka Broad Casting Cooperation, he earned popularity in Radio and Television in Sri Lanka. We, young and olds, still remembernostalgically his well-known \u201cMuthu AhurakGayana\u201d Children Song Program aired by Sri Lanka Rupawahaini Cooperation in the 80s.<\/p>\n

Laxman Wijesekara, definitely is very close to our hearts and minds, and one of the key figuresin Children\u2019s Music in Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Luxman is always very unassuming, extremelyhelpful to anyone who approaches him. In composing music, LuxmanWijesekeara is very innovative, creative and quite talented. He has talents for composingsimple and catchy tunes for children whether it is music for Sinhala or English children\u2019s songs. By composing music for my own children\u2019s book and CD \u201c A for Apple\u201d Luxman has proved beyond doubt that language is not a problem or a barrier for a versatile music composer. When he composes music for children, he takes his own time, pays close attention to the meter, the tempo, the bar lines. Whatever, composition he has done so far, starting with his famous \u201cMuthu Ahurak\u201d gayana program of Sri Lanka Rupavahini Cooperation, he has developed expertize in each of above basic rules of music compositions. As amusician close to children\u2019s hearts he can compose soothing music not only pleasing to the ears of children but we adults as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cMuthu AhurakRupavahiniGayana CD, Henri Jayasena\u2019s \u201cSuduSiyage Lama Gee\u201d and my own \u201cSinduKiyamuGanan Karamu\u201d, \u201cNawaLowakata Lama Gee, and \u201cA for Apple\u201d are some of his bestmasterpieces he has contributed to the field of children\u2019s music in Sri Lanka. His first CD, \u201cJana Udawa Lama Geetha\u201d sponsored by the UNICEP shows that it should be looked or studied as one of the pioneering effort to combine value education and entertainment in Sri Lanka, which is also known as \u201cEdutainment\u201d. Most of his music compositions are light, cheerful and mesmerizing. Most of the music he has composed so far shows that LuxmanWijesekera is one of the avant-garde composer of music when it comes to the music for children\u2019s songs.<\/p>\n

Most of his catchy and innovative tunes are found in the following songs: <\/p>\n

\u201cmandaramkaluahasewalakulakanagila\u2026\u2026\u201d, \u201c watthapahalajambugahe\u2026\u2026.\u201d ,\u201cMahadanamuththatanuwanadunneapi\u2026\u2026..\u201d ,\u201cWakkadelangathanikakulensudureddakporawagena, nawagunawalaganankaranakirikoknayide\u2026\u2026\u2026.\u201d, \u201c nangienudutuwadaakase\u2026\u2026..\u201d, \u201cdawasakheenenrajakamalabila\u2026\u2026..\u201d, (Muthu Ahurak Lama Geetha CD) \u201cpadimu ape bisikalaya\u2026..\u201d, \u201cDilenaDilenapunchitharuwa\u2026.\u201d, (NawaLowakata Lama Gee CD) \u201cYoung kids small kids everybody come\u2026.\u201d, \u201c A for apple \u2026 B for bear\u2026\u2026\u2026.\u201d, \u201cTwo times one is Two\u2026\u2026..\u201d, \u201cThere is seven days in a week\u2026..\u201d, \u201cThere are twelve months\u2026\u2026..\u201d (A for Apple CD), \u201cPeraGedidekakperagahe\u201d, \u201cMaluwoPasdenek\u201d, (SinduKiyamu, Ganan Karamu CD)<\/p>\n

As writers for children we know that we need to activate or listencarefully and awake our \u201cinner child, especially when we compose for children. I find that in all hismusic compositions for children, Luxaman makes use of his \u201cinner child\u201d who dictates how to compose innovative and joyful music for children. Since children\u2019s enthusiasm is infectious, one who compose music has to be careful in order to get children to throw their bodies and souls to the rhythm and words of the songs they hear. Luxman is fully aware of this physiological and psychological need, and catches imagination of all the children, holding their attention into all his music. Repetition and rhyme are essential ingredients of Luxman\u2019s own style. Listen to the music of this song he has included in the his \u201cMuthu AhurakGayana program\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cNanginudutuwadaAkase,
\nlowataekainagune ?
\npurahandadutuwade Ra pane,
\nlowawataekaidilune ?
\nAahasamayata mal wage,
\nruwataapiyipipune \/\/
\nPolathugepalinhanikaennanangi
\nSitu maligayen panela ennamalli
\nPolatugedarathsitumaligayath apeloweekak karamu nangi mallei\u201d
\nNanginudutuwadaAkaselowataekainagune ?
\npurahandadutuwade Ra pane lowawataekaidilune ?
\nA ahasamayata mal wage ruwataapiyipipune \/\/
\nNangigedasekandulupirieethire
\nObesinahaweneyapisinna mallei
\nAsa pirikadulathdetholesinahawat apelowe
\nekak karamu ape loweNangie, Malli
\nPolatugedarathsitumaligayath apeloweekak karamu nangi mallei\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

His love for humanity, socialism, equality and justice are powerfully brought out in the music and the words that are chosen. The fast beats he has chosen tell us the urgency we should have for bringing asocial change.<\/p>\n

Most of the music he has composed support children\u2019s learning and emotional development as well as help strengthen memory skills. When it comes to composing of Music for children,Luxman knows what instruments needs to be chosen in order to match the words, how they should be played not too loud or too soft in order to bring out the meanings that are manifest or latent, how various instruments should be amplified keeping acoustic and rhythmic rules , melodic rules, the studio sound quality in relation to voice of children. Most of the music he has composed for children\u2019s songs he uses traditional musical instruments in combination with western instruments, bringing authenticity to the compositions. Some of the music he has composed with appropriate words bring out his love for the poor and need for social change. I like to end this short felicitation by quoting the verses of another song from the \u201cMuthu Ahurak CD\u201d. However, I have slightly improvised the last words. <\/p>\n

LuxmanWijesekara is \u201cPunchiayagepunchi Loke
\nThawathawalassanakarannalankaweaptalebunu, anagithilinayak\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

May you live long! ChiratuJayan!. Luxman Wijesekera\u2019s contribution to the field of children\u2019s music in Sri Lanka still to be assessed. <\/p>\n


\n(This article is written by Theodore Warnakulasuriya who is Professor of Media Studies at the Open University of Sri Lanka to celebrate the 70th Birthday of Mr.Luxman Wijesekera which falls on March 14th 2018.Mr. Wijesekera known as “Lucky Aiya” and his contribution to children’s music in Sri Lanka will be honoured with a musical evening at Nelumpokuna on May 17th 2018)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

*********<\/strong><\/p>\n

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(Veteran musician, singer and actor Lakshman Wijesekera has passed away at the age of 73. This article was posted on this Blog first on March 13th 2018.It is being re-posted without any changes here as tribute to the ever popular Lucky Aiya.) by Prof.Theodore Warnakulasuriya Open University of Sri Lanka. \u201cSome people come into our …<\/p>\n

Continue reading ‘“Lucky Aiya” Also Known as ” Apey Lucky\u201d and his Indelible Footprints in the Children\u2019s Music Sphere of Sri Lanka’ »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[12],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58318"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=58318"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58318\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":75010,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58318\/revisions\/75010"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=58318"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=58318"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=58318"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}