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Sri Lanka still remained one of the rare South Asian countries whose folk-pop music from the 1960-70s had not yet been compiled abroad. This gap is now to be filled with Sri Lanka: The Golden Era Of Sinhalese And Tamil Folk-Pop Music. This compilation presents the diversity of Sri Lankan musical styles between 1967 and 1979 through 30 titles. It comes along with a booklet depicting the country's historical, cultural and musical context. Sri Lanka possesses a great variety of musical traditions and influences which have been shaped by centuries of regional and international exchanges. If Sri Lankan music is undeniably part of South Asian musical culture, its heritage is also a product of almost five centuries of European imperialism. Coming from an original form of creolization, as defined by Edouard Glissant, the baila bears the trace of both the African diaspora and the Iberian influences on the country. The Kaffirs - African slaves deported by the Portuguese - introduced African sounds, while the Portuguese brought their musical traditions and instruments (cavaquinho, mandolin, violin, tambourines). The baila, reminiscent of Caribbean calypso, became the ultimate popular music and dance. The sarala gee (also called light classical music) is a combination of Indian inspired music, either classical or close to Bollywood productions, with Sinhalese lyrics and a slight pop accent. In the early 1960s, the music label Sooriya Records, with founder Gerald Wickremesooriya, were determined to put into light proper Sri Lankan music. Wickremesooriya invented the "new sound of Ceylonese pop" and quickly, the label's hits were broadcasted on Radio Ceylon, the number one radio for a long time. Sooriya Records's catalog reflected the diversity of Sri Lankan musical styles of the times: Anglo-Saxon influenced Sinhalese pop stood next to the baila or the sarala gee. Traditional instrumental music, were also edited by the label. This selection, mainly constituted of titles from Sooriya Records's catalog, presents the most popular artists of the times. Features: Pau Fernando, W.D. Amaradeva, Clarence Wijewardena, Paramesh, The Fortunes, Sanath & Malkanthi Nandasiri, A.E. Manoharan, Pani Bharatha & Party, Mignonne & The Jetliners, Shan, Amitha Dalugama, Maxwell Mendis, Police Reserve Hewisi Band, Shiromi Fernando, Wimala Amaradeva, Indrani Perera, Winslow Six, The Moonstones & Indrani Perera, Sidasi Turya Vadayako, Nalino Nel, Los Flamincos, Lilanthi Karunanayake, Claude & The Sensations With Noeline Mendis, H.R. Jothipala, The Golden Chimes and Victor Ratnayaka.
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