Sumanadasa Meddegoda, Sri Lanka, and his Musical Life

An example of reflecting on the social environment is the musical life of this man, who was constantly alert to modern developments that might assist him with his professional duties. He was a teacher by profession, mainly focused on teaching Hindustani music. He learned in the most rigorous way, mastering the violin by observing peers and taking occasional lessons that never fully satisfied him. Compared to his contemporaries, he successfully trained a variety of singers and musicians. All his descendants are involved in music, either in performance or teaching. Thus, his musical life reflects the society of his time. Even the slightest change in behavior could unsettle him, as he tried to fully adapt. In the end, he chose not to conform anywhere and instead placed his trust in nature, which for him meant staying out of the country’s political or economic affairs during wartime. His attachment to older models was not merely a musical preference for Hindustani music over other types of music he listened to. It also reflected a deep-seated conservatism. This biographical study is based on autoethnography and biographical writing, interviews with his wife, children, friends, and relatives, as well as direct observations. As a result, the differences in the current musical lives of Sri Lankan musicians and singers can become clearer when examined in further comparisons.