Modernizing Composition - Sinhala Song, Poetry, and Politics in Twentieth-Century Sri Lanka

“Garrett Field’s book takes an innovative approach toward studying modern Sinhala songs as literary works in their own right. His delightful translations and insightful analysis serve to make these little-studied works into a fascinating lens for viewing significant political and cultural changes in modern South Asia.” —Stephen C. Berkwitz, author of Buddhist Poetry and Colonialism: Alagiyavanna and the Portuguese in Sri Lanka
 
“Modernizing Composition uses nuanced readings of Sinhala song and poetry to rethink arguments on South Asian nationalism and modernity, which have until now largely focused on India and Pakistan. Garrett Field’s attention to poetics makes this book critical for understanding the larger literary culture of the region. His account of Sri Lankan modern song composers operating in relation to the dominant forces of Indian classical and film musics makes it a must-read for ethnomusicologists.”—Richard K. Wolf, author of The Voice in the Drum: Music, Language and Emotion in Islamicate South Asia

“Field masterfully demonstrates how the intertwined histories of Sinhala musical and poetic efforts developed in relation to the political dynamics of Sri Lanka in the early and mid-twentieth century.”—Amanda Weidman, author of Singing the Classical, Voicing the Modern: The Postcolonial Politics of Music in South India

List of contents

List of Illustrations
Acknowledgments
Note on Translation and Transliteration

Introduction

Part One: The Colonial Era
1. Nationalist Thought and the Sri Lankan World
2. Brothers of the Pure Sinhala Fraternity
3. Wartime Romance

Part Two: The Postcolonial Era
4. Divergent Standards of Excellence
5. For the People
6. Illusions to Disillusions

Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Index

About the author

Garrett Field is Assistant Professor of Ethnomusicology in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts and the School of Music at Ohio University.

Summary

The study of South Asian music falls under the purview of ethnomusicology; whereas that of South Asian literature falls under South Asian studies. This book examines the history of Sinhala-language song and poetry in twentieth-century Sri Lanka.

Product details

• Authors: Garrett Field, Garrett M. Field, Field Garrett
• Publisher: University Of California Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 30.04.2017
• EAN: 9780520294714
• ISBN: 978-0-520-29471-4
• No. of pages: 230
• Series: South Asia Across the Disciplines; South Asia Across the Discipli; South Asia Across the Disciplines
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Music > Music theory; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Sri Lanka, MUSIC / Instruction & Study / Theory, LITERARY CRITICISM / Poetry, 20th Century, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / Cultural & Social, LITERARY CRITICISM / Asian / Indic, Social & cultural anthropology, ethnography, Sinhalese, 20th century, c 1900 to c 1999, Literary studies: poetry & poets, Theory of music & musicology, Social and cultural anthropology, Asian History, Literary studies: poetry and poets, Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Theory of music and musicology, HISTORY / Asia / South / General