Used to sing this lovely hymn in school in C'bo C1950! Nice to hear the Methodist girls singing in that church in Bambalapitiya where my Mum was married.and I was baptised and confirmed. Glad its still there and the girls still singing
The popular song 'Danno Budunge Sri Dharmaskanda' is a Buddhism themed rendition drawn from the play 'Siri Sangabo' produced by the celebrated Sinhalese playwright John de Silva in 1903. He crafted the lyrics and the melody was composed by an Indian musician from Bombay named, Visvanath Laugee. Maestro W.D. Amaradeva has also reiterated it some time back in a radio panel discussion on "Parani Rasanga” or the popular songs of the past era.
Musicians Victor Ratnayaka and Professor Sunil Ariyaratna have both said with vehemence that the original tune of the song was composed by Visvantha Laugee and the Christian hymn which has been extracted from the Danno Budunge tune was recorded by the Church some where in the 1950s. Professor Sunil Ariyaratne’s seminal research on the beginnings and development of Nadagam & Noorthi Gee in Sri Lanka has been published in a volume of several parts that deals with our old Sinhalese hit songs in 30s and 40s era, says critic Janaka Perera.
Vishvanath Lauji, composed classic melodies for John de Silva's dramas namely Sirisangabo, Ramayana, Shakuntala, Sri Wikrama Rajasingha, and Ratnavali during the period between 1903 -1909. A considerable number of songs in his dramas are still popular among dramatists, musicians, and singers as well as the hoi polloi to-date, observes Janaka Perera.
How very wonderful that it is both a Buddhist & Christian anthem as I believe in the goodness and humanity of Jesus & Buddha. We should all study each others religions and imbibe this good essence of each.
In full agreement. I am a Christian. I work closely with the Buddhist priest in the village temple, introduced by my very devout Buddhist friend. Can't understand the animosity and hurling of insults both ways. Thankfully not in this chat.
Thanks for the comment! The NESTORIAN CROSS is an important symbol that proves that Christianity is faith introduced and practiced long before the Colonial Rulers (Portuguese, Dutch and British) were in Sri Lanka.. A Sect of Christians known as Nestorians were inhabiting our island in the Anuradhapura era (377 -1017 B.C.). This Symbol is now the emblem of the Church of Ceylon (Anglican). Please share information about the relevant subject if you have. God bless!
Thank you for the appraisals and constructive criticism which are always welcome. However insertion of HATE COMMENTS will be quite FUTILE......There will be no provision for malicious and antichristian thought on this platform. The INTENTIONS of this video are 1) to INVOKE blessing on our dear motherland 2) to state that Christianity is NOT ALIEN to Sri Lanka NOR is it a so called 'WESTERN RELIGION' as misconcepted. Please REFRAIN from inserting HATE COMMENTS God bless you.
Hymn for Ceylon " The next to consider in this historical piece is the Christian Hymn, “Hymn for Ceylon”. This was written in 1923 by the Rev. Walter Stanley Senior. The notion that Danno Budunge was influenced by Hymn for Ceylon is clearly false as DB was composed long before Hymn for Ceylon. It is, in fact, the converse; Hymn for Ceylon borrowed the melody from DB. Rev. Senior came to SL in 1906. By that time Sirisangabo nurtiya had been shown in Ceylon for at least 3 years. WSS wrote the Hymn for Ceylon at a much later stage. Devar Surya Sena composed music for this song in the 1950s using the Danno Budunge melody, slightly modified to suit Church singing. Reverend Walter Stanley Senior. (10 May 1876 - 23 February 1938) He was an English scholar, poet and member of the Church Missionary Society and was popularly known as the "Bard of Lanka. Reverend Senior came out to Ceylon in 1906 and served as Vice Principal of Trinity College Kandy from (1906-1916). When the then Principal of Trinity, Rev. A. G. Fraser, was looking for talent in the English Universities to come and serve at Trinity College, he came across Senior who belonged to a set of brilliant men, including the late Dr Kenneth Saunders from Emmanuel College, Cambridge, N. P. Campbell, also a Balliol man recognised as a great scientist, and J. P. R. Gibson, later Principal of Ridley Hall, Cambridge. In the absence of Rev Fraser, Senior also deputised as Acting Principal for a short period. He retired to England, and one of his greatest desires, namely, to see Ceylon and some of his numerous friends before his death, was gratified when he was able to spend a short holiday in the Island two years before his death, already a very sick man who knew that the end was not far off. A few months before his death, he said: “The idea has come to me that I should like my ashes, for I contemplate cremation rather than burial, to be interred in St. Andrew’s Churchyard, Haputale.” His gravestone at St Andrew's is a testament to his life, bearing the plain legend “He Loved Ceylon” preceded by the opening lines from his poem, Lanka from Piduruthalagala: Here I stand in spirit, as in body once I stood Long years ago, in love with all the land, this peerless land of beauty's plenitude. The pulpit of the Trinity College Chapel is dedicated to his name. A common vein in many of his finest pieces is an appreciation of the diversity and beauty that is Sri Lanka. Rev Senior also has the distinction of being the author of the famous Hymn for Ceylon as well as the Hymn of Trinity College, Kandy and that of St. John's College, Jaffna. His best-known work, however, is the soul-stirring epic titled The Call of Lanka, which many consider to be arguably the finest poem dealing with Sri Lanka ever written. The tune of the Hymn for Ceylon is another adaptation from the DB tune composed by John de Silva. The music for the Hymn for Ceylon was composed in 1950 by Devar Surya Sena. The tune is the same as that of the original tune of Danno Budunge except for the 5th and 6th lines which were altered by Devar Surya Sena. When it is sung in full harmony, it sounds wonderful. According to Devar Surya Sena, Walter Senior gave him the words of his ‘Hymn for Ceylon’ (O father thou has promised the isles shall wait for thee), and suggested, “Someday you’re going to write a tune for this Bertie.” Later, “on my return from England…In a flash the thought came that the much loved melody of ‘Danno Budunge’, adapted slightly, would fit the metre…I…married the words to the tune, harmonising the melody in four parts”. Mahendra (Speedy) Gonsalkorale. January 2019
First verse sung in Sinhala, second verse sung in Tamil and third verse sung in English.... as the title says it's tri lingual....the 3 official languages spoken in Sri Lanka.
@@WanuX the lyrics in English are written on the video as subtitles but I'm afraid I don't know the Sinhala or Tamil lyrics...ask the gentleman who has posted this video to help you.
What a lovely rendition of a beautifully worded hymn! thanks for uploading, this brings memories of my late father who used to sing this to us as kids. i dont suppose you would have the sinhalese words to this?
This is only bi-lingual not tri-lingual. Also This is the Hymn for Sri Lanka composed by Revd. Senior in the mid 19th century long before the Buddhist version
Thank you all for those lovely comments! All PRAISE and GLORY unto JESUS, the AUTHOUR and PERFECTOR of our FAITH! Yes, it's the same Richard Wagner. He had composed a Pipe Organ Concerto in which the theme of this tune appears. This was explained by the late Kalasoori Lylie Godridge. I can remember this classical piece of music being played by Mr. Russel Bartholomeusz, the then Organist and Precentor of the Chapel of the Transifiguration, S.Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia, Sri Lanka
Shehan De Silva, after patiently waiting for few years I have manged to arrange my senior musician friend (old boy of St. Thomas from the 60s) to meet Mr. Bartholomeusz and clarify your statement above. I am afraid Mr. Bartholomeusz has confirmed that he is not aware of any connection of this melody to Wagner, but agrees that there are a few snippets that closely matches a few pieces of other classical compositions !
Shehan Silva, I arranged my Ex Thomian friend to meet Mr. Bartholomeusz during centenary celebrations to clarify Wagner connection. I am afraid to say his view was that there is no connection of this hymn to Wagner but a number of other classical compositions. However, there are a couple of pieces in the hymn that directly relates to compositions of Mendelssohn.
@@aarongunawickrema7257 it is an adaptation of the tune for Danno Budunge, composed for John De Silva by an Indian musician named Viswanath Lau (also known as Lau Ji- an honorific). The opening phrases have some similarity to a piece by the German composer Mendelssohn but it is not clear whether that was really an inspiration or just a coincidence. Devar Surya Sena, son of Sir James Peiris, later adapted the tune for this hymn. For some reason, the original poster Shehan Silva has stated (quite falsely, as indicated above) that it is an adaptation from Wagner- a myth that has now been circulated so much it is difficult to overcome! Fortunately, the person who he attributed to having made this claim has confirmed there is no such connection.
The popular song 'Danno Budunge Sri Dharmaskanda' is a Buddhism themed rendition drawn from the play 'Siri Sangabo' produced by the celebrated Sinhalese playwright John de Silva in 1903. He crafted the lyrics and the melody was composed by an Indian musician from Bombay named, Visvanath Laugee. Maestro W.D. Amaradeva has also reiterated it some time back in a radio panel discussion on "Parani Rasanga” or the popular songs of the past era.
Musicians Victor Ratnayaka and Professor Sunil Ariyaratna have both said with vehemence that the original tune of the song was composed by Visvantha Laugee and the Christian hymn which has been extracted from the Danno Budunge tune was recorded by the Church some where in the 1950s. Professor Sunil Ariyaratne’s seminal research on the beginnings and development of Nadagam & Noorthi Gee in Sri Lanka has been published in a volume of several parts that deals with our old Sinhalese hit songs in 30s and 40s era, says critic Janaka Perera.
Vishvanath Lauji, composed classic melodies for John de Silva's dramas namely Sirisangabo, Ramayana, Shakuntala, Sri Wikrama Rajasingha, and Ratnavali during the period between 1903 -1909. A considerable number of songs in his dramas are still popular among dramatists, musicians, and singers as well as the hoi polloi to-date, observes Janaka Perera.
Hymn for Ceylon " The next to consider in this historical piece is the Christian Hymn, “Hymn for Ceylon”. This was written in 1923 by the Rev. Walter Stanley Senior. The notion that Danno Budunge was influenced by Hymn for Ceylon is clearly false as DB was composed long before Hymn for Ceylon. It is, in fact, the converse; Hymn for Ceylon borrowed the melody from DB. Rev. Senior came to SL in 1906. By that time Sirisangabo nurtiya had been shown in Ceylon for at least 3 years. WSS wrote the Hymn for Ceylon at a much later stage. Devar Surya Sena composed music for this song in the 1950s using the Danno Budunge melody, slightly modified to suit Church singing. Reverend Walter Stanley Senior. (10 May 1876 - 23 February 1938) He was an English scholar, poet and member of the Church Missionary Society and was popularly known as the "Bard of Lanka. Reverend Senior came out to Ceylon in 1906 and served as Vice Principal of Trinity College Kandy from (1906-1916). When the then Principal of Trinity, Rev. A. G. Fraser, was looking for talent in the English Universities to come and serve at Trinity College, he came across Senior who belonged to a set of brilliant men, including the late Dr Kenneth Saunders from Emmanuel College, Cambridge, N. P. Campbell, also a Balliol man recognised as a great scientist, and J. P. R. Gibson, later Principal of Ridley Hall, Cambridge. In the absence of Rev Fraser, Senior also deputised as Acting Principal for a short period. He retired to England, and one of his greatest desires, namely, to see Ceylon and some of his numerous friends before his death, was gratified when he was able to spend a short holiday in the Island two years before his death, already a very sick man who knew that the end was not far off. A few months before his death, he said: “The idea has come to me that I should like my ashes, for I contemplate cremation rather than burial, to be interred in St. Andrew’s Churchyard, Haputale.” His gravestone at St Andrew's is a testament to his life, bearing the plain legend “He Loved Ceylon” preceded by the opening lines from his poem, Lanka from Piduruthalagala: Here I stand in spirit, as in body once I stood Long years ago, in love with all the land, this peerless land of beauty's plenitude. The pulpit of the Trinity College Chapel is dedicated to his name. A common vein in many of his finest pieces is an appreciation of the diversity and beauty that is Sri Lanka. Rev Senior also has the distinction of being the author of the famous Hymn for Ceylon as well as the Hymn of Trinity College, Kandy and that of St. John's College, Jaffna. His best-known work, however, is the soul-stirring epic titled The Call of Lanka, which many consider to be arguably the finest poem dealing with Sri Lanka ever written. The tune of the Hymn for Ceylon is another adaptation from the DB tune composed by John de Silva. The music for the Hymn for Ceylon was composed in 1950 by Devar Surya Sena. The tune is the same as that of the original tune of Danno Budunge except for the 5th and 6th lines which were altered by Devar Surya Sena. When it is sung in full harmony, it sounds wonderful. According to Devar Surya Sena, Walter Senior gave him the words of his ‘Hymn for Ceylon’ (O father thou has promised the isles shall wait for thee), and suggested, “Someday you’re going to write a tune for this Bertie.” Later, “on my return from England…In a flash the thought came that the much loved melody of ‘Danno Budunge’, adapted slightly, would fit the metre…I…married the words to the tune, harmonising the melody in four parts”. Mahendra (Speedy) Gonsalkorale. January 2019
Used to sing this lovely hymn in school in C'bo C1950! Nice to hear the Methodist girls singing in that church in Bambalapitiya where my Mum was married.and I was baptised and confirmed. Glad its still there and the girls still singing
Beautifully rendered. Thank you. Remember singing this at Metho when Miss Robins was principal. Thank you!
Very very good, & it is what the Lord wants. Lets pray to Him.
Yes it brings tears to one's eyes, dear Lord bless our beautiful counyry.
Thanks a ton for this.. Please never take this down.. 🖤
The popular song 'Danno Budunge Sri Dharmaskanda' is a Buddhism themed rendition drawn from the play 'Siri Sangabo' produced by the celebrated Sinhalese playwright John de Silva in 1903. He crafted the lyrics and the melody was composed by an Indian musician from Bombay named, Visvanath Laugee. Maestro W.D. Amaradeva has also reiterated it some time back in a radio panel discussion on "Parani Rasanga” or the popular songs of the past era.
Musicians Victor Ratnayaka and Professor Sunil Ariyaratna have both said with vehemence that the original tune of the song was composed by Visvantha Laugee and the Christian hymn which has been extracted from the Danno Budunge tune was recorded by the Church some where in the 1950s. Professor Sunil Ariyaratne’s seminal research on the beginnings and development of Nadagam & Noorthi Gee in Sri Lanka has been published in a volume of several parts that deals with our old Sinhalese hit songs in 30s and 40s era, says critic Janaka Perera.
Vishvanath Lauji, composed classic melodies for John de Silva's dramas namely Sirisangabo, Ramayana, Shakuntala, Sri Wikrama Rajasingha, and Ratnavali during the period between 1903 -1909. A considerable number of songs in his dramas are still popular among dramatists, musicians, and singers as well as the hoi polloi to-date, observes Janaka Perera.
It took a foreigner to write this beautiful hymn one cannot listened to without tears pourimg down every time one hears thisit is the same
What a beautiful rendition..so proud of Metho Choir!! My Alma Meta..
May God bless Sri Lanka and keep us safe until His return...🙏
මෙම ගීතය 1905 වර්ෂයේ සර් ජෝන් ද සිල්වා විසින් සිරි සග බෝ නුර්ති නාට්ටිය වෙනුවෙන් නිර්මාණය කරන ලදී.
උපතින්ම කතෝලිකයෙක් වූ මෙතුමා මේ ගීතයේ තනුව ලෙස යොදා ගනු ලැබුවේ එකල කතෝලික පල්ලි වල ගායනා කල ගීතිකාවක තනුවකි.. එම තනුව අදටත් ජර්මන්, ආජන්ටිනා, වැනි ලතින් රටවල් වල භාවිතා කරයි..
අදටත් අප රටේ මතොදිස්ත දේවස්ථාන තුල මේ තනුව සහිත ගීතිකාව ගායනා කරනු ලැබෙයි.. නිශ්ශිත වර්ෂයක් කියනු බැරි වුවද, කිතුනු සභාවේ පොදු මතය මෙය පුරා වර්ෂ 250 කට වඩා පැරණි තනුවක් බවයි..
Can you please post a link to that hymn?
I was looking for such an arrangement, thanks Shehan!
How very wonderful that it is both a Buddhist & Christian anthem as I believe in the goodness and humanity of Jesus & Buddha. We should all study each others religions and imbibe this good essence of each.
In full agreement. I am a Christian. I work closely with the Buddhist priest in the village temple, introduced by my very devout Buddhist friend.
Can't understand the animosity and hurling of insults both ways. Thankfully not in this chat.
Oh God hear our prayer and Bless Sri Lanka
සමිඳුනි දිවයින් - සමුදුරෙ රුවන්
ඔබ එනතෙක් තෙදින් - සිටියි අණ දුන් මෙන්
මෙ රටටත් ඒ ලෙසින් - ආසිරි දෙන මෙන්
අවදිව ම නිතින් - යදිමු ඔබ ගෙන්//
Thank you for this 🤍
Beautiful hymn for Ceylon.
Give Peace within her borders , Till Christ himself return....
Pushparanee ( Gilasekharam ) Ratnesar, USA.
Thanks for the appreciation!..... This is the Colpetty Methodist College Choir singing..... Directed by Mahen Peiris...
Thanks for posting. So awesome to listen to my school choir!! 🥰
Beautifully rended! Remember singing this hymn in Metho when Miss Robins was the principal. Thank you for sharing!
very beautiful singing@ Methodist Church choir Collpetty
This is delightful! Thank you very much for posting and enabling us to enjoy this peformance!
Mahen Peiris, add the College Choir also.
Beautifully done. Chapel of the Transfiguration brings fond memories of College. Really enjoyed. Thank you.
Hail to my Alma Mater!! Good job Metho!!
My grandfather was a man of peace. Shame alot of world leaders are not fred senior
Thanks for the comment!
The NESTORIAN CROSS is an important symbol that proves that Christianity is faith introduced and practiced long before the Colonial Rulers (Portuguese, Dutch and British) were in Sri Lanka.. A Sect of Christians known as Nestorians were inhabiting our island in the Anuradhapura era (377 -1017 B.C.). This Symbol is now the emblem of the Church of Ceylon (Anglican). Please share information about the relevant subject if you have. God bless!
Shehan Silva a
It is also the symbol of the catholic chutch
This is very nice its unite all Sri Lankans
Beautiful singing
A melodious good choral presentation! thankyou
Very nicely done; both the song & video:-)
Beautiful,, I loved this hymn as a kid to in Sinhalese as well,,,, God Bless our mother land,
Thanks Dilsiri!!! Havnt seen you lately!
Thank you for the appraisals and constructive criticism which are always welcome. However insertion of HATE COMMENTS will be quite FUTILE......There will be no provision for malicious and antichristian thought on this platform.
The INTENTIONS of this video are
1) to INVOKE blessing on our dear motherland
2) to state that Christianity is NOT ALIEN to Sri Lanka NOR is it a so called 'WESTERN RELIGION' as misconcepted.
Please REFRAIN from inserting HATE COMMENTS
God bless you.
The choir blends so well. 🙏🙏
beautiful rendition. Loved it.
Hymn for Ceylon
" The next to consider in this historical piece is the Christian Hymn, “Hymn for Ceylon”. This was written in 1923 by the Rev. Walter Stanley Senior. The notion that Danno Budunge was influenced by Hymn for Ceylon is clearly false as DB was composed long before Hymn for Ceylon. It is, in fact, the converse; Hymn for Ceylon borrowed the melody from DB.
Rev. Senior came to SL in 1906. By that time Sirisangabo nurtiya had been shown in Ceylon for at least 3 years. WSS wrote the Hymn for Ceylon at a much later stage. Devar Surya Sena composed music for this song in the 1950s using the Danno Budunge melody, slightly modified to suit Church singing.
Reverend Walter Stanley Senior. (10 May 1876 - 23 February 1938)
He was an English scholar, poet and member of the Church Missionary Society and was popularly known as the "Bard of Lanka. Reverend Senior came out to Ceylon in 1906 and served as Vice Principal of Trinity College Kandy from (1906-1916). When the then Principal of Trinity, Rev. A. G. Fraser, was looking for talent in the English Universities to come and serve at Trinity College, he came across Senior who belonged to a set of brilliant men, including the late Dr Kenneth Saunders from Emmanuel College, Cambridge, N. P. Campbell, also a Balliol man recognised as a great scientist, and J. P. R. Gibson, later Principal of Ridley Hall, Cambridge. In the absence of Rev Fraser, Senior also deputised as Acting Principal for a short period.
He retired to England, and one of his greatest desires, namely, to see Ceylon and some of his numerous friends before his death, was gratified when he was able to spend a short holiday in the Island two years before his death, already a very sick man who knew that the end was not far off. A few months before his death, he said: “The idea has come to me that I should like my ashes, for I contemplate cremation rather than burial, to be interred in St. Andrew’s Churchyard, Haputale.” His gravestone at St Andrew's is a testament to his life, bearing the plain legend “He Loved Ceylon” preceded by the opening lines from his poem, Lanka from Piduruthalagala: Here I stand in spirit, as in body once I stood Long years ago, in love with all the land, this peerless land of beauty's plenitude. The pulpit of the Trinity College Chapel is dedicated to his name.
A common vein in many of his finest pieces is an appreciation of the diversity and beauty that is Sri Lanka. Rev Senior also has the distinction of being the author of the famous Hymn for Ceylon as well as the Hymn of Trinity College, Kandy and that of St. John's College, Jaffna. His best-known work, however, is the soul-stirring epic titled The Call of Lanka, which many consider to be arguably the finest poem dealing with Sri Lanka ever written.
The tune of the Hymn for Ceylon is another adaptation from the DB tune composed by John de Silva. The music for the Hymn for Ceylon was composed in 1950 by Devar Surya Sena. The tune is the same as that of the original tune of Danno Budunge except for the 5th and 6th lines which were altered by Devar Surya Sena. When it is sung in full harmony, it sounds wonderful.
According to Devar Surya Sena, Walter Senior gave him the words of his ‘Hymn for Ceylon’ (O father thou has promised the isles shall wait for thee), and suggested, “Someday you’re going to write a tune for this Bertie.” Later, “on my return from England…In a flash the thought came that the much loved melody of ‘Danno Budunge’, adapted slightly, would fit the metre…I…married the words to the tune, harmonising the melody in four parts”.
Mahendra (Speedy) Gonsalkorale.
January 2019
Thank you for the appraisal!!
Wow, same tone with Danno Budunge, great to know
Lovely. It's the music of 'dunno Budunge '
love the video. words could be clearer.
We Christians need to be interceding more for our motherland.
wow it is very best hmm'' well done
WOW WOW WOW PRAISE GOD!
A good effort by by Thomians .Keep it up.
What is this language & more details of this song please.
It is lovely song ever
First verse sung in Sinhala, second verse sung in Tamil and third verse sung in English.... as the title says it's tri lingual....the 3 official languages spoken in Sri Lanka.
@@sunethraursulakarunaratne If you know lyrics please can you give it
@@WanuX the lyrics in English are written on the video as subtitles but I'm afraid I don't know the Sinhala or Tamil lyrics...ask the gentleman who has posted this video to help you.
What a lovely rendition of a beautifully worded hymn! thanks for uploading, this brings memories of my late father who used to sing this to us as kids. i dont suppose you would have the sinhalese words to this?
This is only bi-lingual not tri-lingual. Also This is the Hymn for Sri Lanka composed by Revd. Senior in the mid 19th century long before the Buddhist version
It is trilingual...
This is so beautiful!!!
Nice
These are students from Methodist College...
shehan, lovely!!! which choir is this?
Why don't they start with the English words "Jehovah, thou has promised"?
the first verse is in Sinhala. second in Tamil. the rest in English. this is a trilingual hymn
It's St johns college jaffna hymn music
Which language is this ??
Sinhala (1st Stanza), Tamil (2nd Stanza), English (3rd and 4th Stanzas)
Thank u
ah,,, shehan... yove done it again..... nevertheless.... lovely song and esto perpetua
Thank you all for those lovely comments! All PRAISE and GLORY unto JESUS, the AUTHOUR and PERFECTOR of our FAITH!
Yes, it's the same Richard Wagner. He had composed a Pipe Organ Concerto in which the theme of this tune appears. This was explained by the late Kalasoori Lylie Godridge. I can remember this classical piece of music being played by Mr. Russel Bartholomeusz, the then Organist and Precentor of the Chapel of the Transifiguration, S.Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia, Sri Lanka
Shehan Silva
Pls if you can post a link of the original music by R Wagner. Or the name of his concerto. Thank you!
Shehan De Silva, after patiently waiting for few years I have manged to arrange my senior musician friend (old boy of St. Thomas from the 60s) to meet Mr. Bartholomeusz and clarify your statement above. I am afraid Mr. Bartholomeusz has confirmed that he is not aware of any connection of this melody to Wagner, but agrees that there are a few snippets that closely matches a few pieces of other classical compositions !
Shehan Silva, I arranged my Ex Thomian friend to meet Mr. Bartholomeusz during centenary celebrations to clarify Wagner connection. I am afraid to say his view was that there is no connection of this hymn to Wagner but a number of other classical compositions. However, there are a couple of pieces in the hymn that directly relates to compositions of Mendelssohn.
I know this is a few years too late but does anyone know if the music was an original composition or an adapted one from the romantic era?
@@aarongunawickrema7257 it is an adaptation of the tune for Danno Budunge, composed for John De Silva by an Indian musician named Viswanath Lau (also known as Lau Ji- an honorific). The opening phrases have some similarity to a piece by the German composer Mendelssohn but it is not clear whether that was really an inspiration or just a coincidence. Devar Surya Sena, son of Sir James Peiris, later adapted the tune for this hymn. For some reason, the original poster Shehan Silva has stated (quite falsely, as indicated above) that it is an adaptation from Wagner- a myth that has now been circulated so much it is difficult to overcome! Fortunately, the person who he attributed to having made this claim has confirmed there is no such connection.
3:45 St.Thomas' College!
Gud song.bt i am a bit surprised to see the St.Thomas cross..
The popular song 'Danno Budunge Sri Dharmaskanda' is a Buddhism themed rendition drawn from the play 'Siri Sangabo' produced by the celebrated Sinhalese playwright John de Silva in 1903. He crafted the lyrics and the melody was composed by an Indian musician from Bombay named, Visvanath Laugee. Maestro W.D. Amaradeva has also reiterated it some time back in a radio panel discussion on "Parani Rasanga” or the popular songs of the past era.
Musicians Victor Ratnayaka and Professor Sunil Ariyaratna have both said with vehemence that the original tune of the song was composed by Visvantha Laugee and the Christian hymn which has been extracted from the Danno Budunge tune was recorded by the Church some where in the 1950s. Professor Sunil Ariyaratne’s seminal research on the beginnings and development of Nadagam & Noorthi Gee in Sri Lanka has been published in a volume of several parts that deals with our old Sinhalese hit songs in 30s and 40s era, says critic Janaka Perera.
Vishvanath Lauji, composed classic melodies for John de Silva's dramas namely Sirisangabo, Ramayana, Shakuntala, Sri Wikrama Rajasingha, and Ratnavali during the period between 1903 -1909. A considerable number of songs in his dramas are still popular among dramatists, musicians, and singers as well as the hoi polloi to-date, observes Janaka Perera.
Hymn for Ceylon
" The next to consider in this historical piece is the Christian Hymn, “Hymn for Ceylon”. This was written in 1923 by the Rev. Walter Stanley Senior. The notion that Danno Budunge was influenced by Hymn for Ceylon is clearly false as DB was composed long before Hymn for Ceylon. It is, in fact, the converse; Hymn for Ceylon borrowed the melody from DB.
Rev. Senior came to SL in 1906. By that time Sirisangabo nurtiya had been shown in Ceylon for at least 3 years. WSS wrote the Hymn for Ceylon at a much later stage. Devar Surya Sena composed music for this song in the 1950s using the Danno Budunge melody, slightly modified to suit Church singing.
Reverend Walter Stanley Senior. (10 May 1876 - 23 February 1938)
He was an English scholar, poet and member of the Church Missionary Society and was popularly known as the "Bard of Lanka. Reverend Senior came out to Ceylon in 1906 and served as Vice Principal of Trinity College Kandy from (1906-1916). When the then Principal of Trinity, Rev. A. G. Fraser, was looking for talent in the English Universities to come and serve at Trinity College, he came across Senior who belonged to a set of brilliant men, including the late Dr Kenneth Saunders from Emmanuel College, Cambridge, N. P. Campbell, also a Balliol man recognised as a great scientist, and J. P. R. Gibson, later Principal of Ridley Hall, Cambridge. In the absence of Rev Fraser, Senior also deputised as Acting Principal for a short period.
He retired to England, and one of his greatest desires, namely, to see Ceylon and some of his numerous friends before his death, was gratified when he was able to spend a short holiday in the Island two years before his death, already a very sick man who knew that the end was not far off. A few months before his death, he said: “The idea has come to me that I should like my ashes, for I contemplate cremation rather than burial, to be interred in St. Andrew’s Churchyard, Haputale.” His gravestone at St Andrew's is a testament to his life, bearing the plain legend “He Loved Ceylon” preceded by the opening lines from his poem, Lanka from Piduruthalagala: Here I stand in spirit, as in body once I stood Long years ago, in love with all the land, this peerless land of beauty's plenitude. The pulpit of the Trinity College Chapel is dedicated to his name.
A common vein in many of his finest pieces is an appreciation of the diversity and beauty that is Sri Lanka. Rev Senior also has the distinction of being the author of the famous Hymn for Ceylon as well as the Hymn of Trinity College, Kandy and that of St. John's College, Jaffna. His best-known work, however, is the soul-stirring epic titled The Call of Lanka, which many consider to be arguably the finest poem dealing with Sri Lanka ever written.
The tune of the Hymn for Ceylon is another adaptation from the DB tune composed by John de Silva. The music for the Hymn for Ceylon was composed in 1950 by Devar Surya Sena. The tune is the same as that of the original tune of Danno Budunge except for the 5th and 6th lines which were altered by Devar Surya Sena. When it is sung in full harmony, it sounds wonderful.
According to Devar Surya Sena, Walter Senior gave him the words of his ‘Hymn for Ceylon’ (O father thou has promised the isles shall wait for thee), and suggested, “Someday you’re going to write a tune for this Bertie.” Later, “on my return from England…In a flash the thought came that the much loved melody of ‘Danno Budunge’, adapted slightly, would fit the metre…I…married the words to the tune, harmonising the melody in four parts”.
Mahendra (Speedy) Gonsalkorale.
January 2019
Nice