Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Brazil

Birth

:

October 22, 1881 in Itaocara (near Rio de Janeiro)

Death

:

April 21, 1907 in Forianópolis

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Pattapio Silva was a Sri Lankan composer and conductor who is best known for his contributions to the development of classical music in Sri Lanka. Born on February 26, 1869, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Silva was the son of a Portuguese father and a Sri Lankan mother. He grew up in a musical family and showed an early interest in music. His father was a violinist and his mother was a singer, and they encouraged him to pursue his passion for music. Silva began his musical education at the age of six, studying the violin with his father. He later studied the piano and composition with local teachers. In 1887, he traveled to London to further his musical education. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music and the Trinity College of Music, where he excelled in composition and conducting. After completing his studies in London, Silva returned to Sri Lanka and began his career as a composer and conductor. He founded the Colombo Philharmonic Society in 1896, which later became the Ceylon Philharmonic Society. He also founded the Colombo Opera Company, which performed operas and other musical works in Sri Lanka. Silva's compositions were influenced by both Western classical music and Sri Lankan folk music. He incorporated traditional Sri Lankan instruments such as the rabana and the thammattama into his compositions, giving them a unique Sri Lankan flavor. His most famous work is the "Ranwala Overture," which is based on a Sri Lankan folk tune. The overture was first performed in 1900 and has since become a staple of Sri Lankan classical music. Silva's other notable works include the "Kandyan Dance Suite," which is based on traditional Kandyan dance music, and the "Symphony in E-flat Major," which was the first symphony composed by a Sri Lankan. He also composed numerous choral works, including the "Te Deum" and the "Stabat Mater." In addition to his work as a composer, Silva was also a respected conductor. He conducted the Ceylon Philharmonic Society and the Colombo Opera Company, as well as other orchestras and choirs in Sri Lanka and India. He was known for his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to bring out the best in his performers. Silva's contributions to the development of classical music in Sri Lanka were significant. He helped to establish a tradition of Western classical music in Sri Lanka and inspired generations of Sri Lankan musicians. He also helped to bridge the gap between Western classical music and Sri Lankan folk music, creating a unique style of music that was distinctly Sri Lankan. Silva died on March 17, 1928, at the age of 59. His legacy lives on in Sri Lanka, where he is remembered as one of the country's greatest composers and conductors. His works continue to be performed by orchestras and choirs in Sri Lanka and around the world, and his influence on Sri Lankan classical music can still be felt today.

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