A typical North Indian raga, a new arrangement of 'Eastern Blues' and Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata… performed on sitar, together with violin, piano, bass guitar and percussion.
This is the feast that awaits music lovers at the Lionel Wendt Theatre at Pradeepanjalee XV: A Farewell Concert on Wednesday, August 13.
The 'farewell' is only temporary, assures Pradeep Ratnayake, explaining that he is leaving the island for the US to take up a Fulbright scholarship at Columbia University to study Jazz on Sitar and composition for a year.
The concert is his way of thanking all those who've supported him throughout the years.
For years, Pradeep has strived to give a Sri Lankan identity to the sitar, a largely Indian instrument, taking it out of its traditional context, blending Eastern and Western styles, to create something new and unique. This is what helped him gain entrance to Columbia University, which selected him upon listening to a CD of his music.
At the concert, he will be combining Sri Lankan, Indian and Western styles with pieces such as Bihag - a raga from North India as well as Kuveni, Stallions in the Field and Flight (based on the Ukusa vannama). A special feature of this concert will be the compositions of some of the great classical masterpieces on the sitar such as Beethoven's 'Moonlight Sonata', Mozart's 'Alla Turca' and 'Winter' and 'Spring' of Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons'.
"Moonlight Sonata was a challenge," says Pradeep. "I had to learn the techniques and had to transpose the melody so it would fit into the range of the sitar." Not much classical Western music has been performed on the sitar, he says.
Also included in Pradeepanjalee XV, is a newly arranged version of Eastern Blues, a combination of jazz and music from the East.
Musicians who will take the stage with Pradeep include Eshantha Peiris and Harsha Makalanda on piano, Lakshman Joseph De Saram on violin, Alston Joachim on bass guitar, Ravibandu Vidyapathi on getebera, Karunaratne Bandara on Kandyan drums and Wijeratne Ranatunga and Chandralal Amarakoon on thabla.
Pradeep though sad to leave home, is looking forward to the exposure and experience he would gain from his stint at Columbia. "Opportunities are many in a country like that. You can meet and learn from world famous musicians," he says. Currently a senior lecturer in the Department of Languages and Cultural Studies at the University of Sri Jayawardenapura, Pradeep says he hopes to share his experiences and expertise with his students and work towards the development of music as a subject in the university, on his return.
Pradeepanjalee XV, sponsored by the Sri Lankan Tourist Board will be held at the Lionel Wendt on August 13 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the Lionel Wendt. | 
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