DD Gunasena : much sought-after violin exponent
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Violinist,vocalist and music composer DD Gunasena arguably the best violinist ever germinated in this country.
Violin, byname fiddle, the bowed stringed musical instrument that evolved during the Renaissance from ancient bowed instruments: the medieval fiddle a 16th-century Italian offshoot. The violin is probably the foremost known, most widely apportioned musical instrument in the world.
DD is one of the few musicians who has heavily travelled to most overseas countries, like England, New Zealand, Italy, France, The Maldives, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Norway, Denmark, Canada, Middles East countries, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane in Australia etc. Most of these visits had been to accompany Pandit W. D. Amaradeva for his concerts..
Born in 1947 to his parents in Kolonnawa had attended initially Kolonnawa Maha Vidyalaya, then Sri Sangaraja Maha Vidyalaya in Maradana. Unlike most musicians, DD had developed his innate music abilities at home not in school. At home they have possessed several musical instruments like Harmonium, Tabla, Dollak, Mandolin, Sithar. The then Tower Hall artistes used to visit his home to practise and play the musical instruments. His elder brothers and father DD Wilbert were rather competent in playing the instruments but DD who was young was barred from even touching them. But DD had music instincts in his blood was very interested in learning to play musical instruments, which he did on his own when no one was at home.
Before music concerts most of the artistes had gathered at DD’s house to rehearse. DD had gradually learned to play music ragas. He had learned to play the violin under the guidance of maestro LKJ Wickremasinghe. Initially DD had been invited for small music recitals before he became sought-after in the past decades performing at all music, film, recordings and overseas concerts as the premier violinist.
The tower hall artistes inspired DD to learn to play the harmonium initially, which he had played it in the absence of skilled musicians. The artistes who had sung then were Baig Master, Dharmadasa Walpola, Latha Walpola, Eddie Jayamanne, Eddie Junior, Sujatha Perera, Varda Raja, HR Jothipala, AMU Raj, Lakshmi Bai, Rupasinghe Master, Vivien Borelessa, Allen Ratnayake etc. This unique opportunity was afforded to DD in the early 1960 decade.
In the year 1971 DD was absorbed into the SLBC orchestra as a ‘casual violinist’. This gave him the opportunity to take part in ‘Sarala Gee’ auditions along with stalwarts like HR Jothipala.GSB Rani, JA Milton Perera and R Sivananthan under the music directions of music geniuses like Mohamed Sally, Shelton Premaratne. Subsequently DD had met stalwarts like MK Rocksamy, Somadasa Elvitigala, PLA Somapala, Lathief Master, Premasiri Khemadasa and RA Chandrasena.DD also had the opportunity to learned western music under musician Douglas Ferdinandez.
Also in year 1971 DD was invited to sing in ‘Prabuddha Gee’ of music maestro and composer Premasiri Khemadasa. The song ‘Sondura Matasamudenna’ with lyrics by Saman Chandranath Weerasinghe recorded is still a hit after nearly five decades. Several other artistes also have sung this song have been heard over our airways constantly.DD is an accomplished singer who could sing Hindi songs well in particular, having sung many cover songs.DD has obtained a diploma certificate for music from Bahathkanda University.
DD has been a sought after Violin exponent for many music directors over the past five decades. Shelton Premaratne, Mohamed Sally, P L A Somapala, Lionel Algama, Sanath Nandasiri, Sarath Dissanayake, Stanley Peiris, Clerence Wijewardena, Sisira Senaratne, W Makkoluwa ,W de S Kulatilleke, Somapala Ratnayake, Victor Ratnayake, Samatha Perera, Kalani Perera, DR Peiris, Rohana Weerasinghe, Rohana Dharmakeerthi, Dharshana Ruwan Dissanayake are some of the big names to mention.
DD has participated in several television concerts in Lucknow, in 1980 with Kalani Perera, Thisarasiri Perera , HM Jayawardena ,Sunil Weerasinghe and Malini Bulathsinhala. In 1985 participated with Sujatha Attanayake in television programmes and music recitals in Nagpoor, India. In 1990 DD participated in many television programmes with WD Amaradeva, Wijeratne Ranatunga and Rohana Weerasinghe. Also in year 1992 had performed in a number of television programmes in Singapore with Malini Bulathsinhala and Kalhari singing Hindi songs. In the late 1990 decade DD and group from the SLBC participated in a western music contest in Japan.
Apart from being a well known singer, DD has sung songs and directed music in tele-dramas and films mostly in the 2000 decade. For the song in tele-drama ‘Arungal’ DD was awarded, OCIC Award and Sumathi Award for ‘best song’. in year 2009. In year 2010 he was awarded a ‘State award for contributions made to music’. Two of the films where DD did music were ‘Roo Re’ and ‘Akunu Pahara’.
DD for his skill and craze for singing Hindi songs, ‘Suhani Rath’ Concert was organised in the year 1999. His solo Violin exhibits ‘Nirmani’ to packed houses at the Tower Hall, John de Silva and Ananda College auditorium in 2000. This was also shown in Sydney and Melbourne to interested audiences.
DD during the past decade has been shuttling to and from Melbourne as his son Dumidu Roshan is domiciled particularly after the demise of his wife Luckshmi Samaraweera in year 2011. DD is also blessed with a daughter Sadna living back home.
DD is now locked down in Melbourne awaiting a flight back to Sri Lanka.
Sunil Thenabadu
in Brisbane