Harsha Makalande conducting the Khrome Orchestra
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About Harsha Makalande And Khrome
Harsha Makalande & Khrome Orchestra is an ensemble based in Sri Lanka, and led by composer pianist Harsha Makalande. Presently it consists of approximately thirty musicians. The orchestra has a repertoire of Pop,Jazz,Fusion, Classical and Oriental music. Formed in 1987 Khrome has performed in many significant venues internationally and locally. The pool of members contain some of the most accomplished musicians currently working in Sri Lanka.
The Khrome orchestra is now known for it's renditions of original works by Sri Lankan composers and for performing new arrangements of known music with elements of Sri Lankan indigenous music blended in to the texture of the music.
Almost all famous Sri Lankan artistes have performed with Khrome. The original scoring, and orchestration for the performances is mainly done by Harsha Makalande.
How it began!
Pictured here are the Hellman's Angels with Harsha Makalande and Khrome. Ed Berg guitar, Harsha piano, Derek Wickremanayake guitar, Junior Weerasinghe drums, Thilak Dias bass, and Daphne Hellman harp, At the Hilton International 1988 .
After realizing that Sri Lankan elements could be transmitted to the world through the genre known as Fusion music, Harsha began to write fresh arrangements for the ensemble...
The first Khrome set up consisted of four musicians well known in Sri Lanka...namely Junior Weerasinghe (Drums), Tilak Dias (Bass), Derek Byrd Wickremanayake (Guitar), and Harsha Makalande (Keyboards).
In 1987 Harsha's concert "Image SL" featured a full symphony orchestra conducted by Lalanath De Silva and originals orchestrated by Harsha....at the Hilton Colombo ball room.
The repertoire consisted of
• Original composition.....s
• To be cont..
Towards Fusion!...
...and Fusion Jazz!
Speaking about 'Asian Blues'!
Harsha Makalande at press conference for JazzmaTazz NCPA Mumbai...Steve Turre, Harsha Makalande and Jon Faddis... and in the foreground is Mrs. Ronnie Scott.
Listen to some of our performances
Harsha has performed from ZDF in Germany, The Tokyo Opera City in Japan, Sydney Opera House in Australia to the Jazz Yatra festival in India. Most performances have been with KHROME.
....LISTEN
Orchestra Members
Violins
Ananda Dabare, Sanath Sathischandra, Thisara Bandara, Sachiththa Fernando, Manoj Wijayawardena, Nemantha Illangakone, Dharshana Amerasinghe, Sadith Nethsara
Viola
Hassan Majid Othman
V'Cello
Somapala Rathnayake, Lochana
Trumpet
Hemanga Samaraweera, Anusha Priyadharshani
Trombone
Nisantha Premalal
Euphonium
ATPS Kumara
Flute
Nuwan
Clarinet
Ananda Padmasiri
Soprano Saxophone
Jayantha Dissanayake
Alto Saxophone
Chaminda
Tenor Saxophone
Supun C. Jayalath
Baritone Saxophone
Mohan Samarakone
Percussion
Jananath Warakagoda
Electric Guitar
Lasantha Kariyawasam
Accoustic Guitar
Jude Pieris
Bass Guitar
Timal Jayamanne, Denver Barnes
Vocals
Nirmali Makalande, Jananath Warakagoda
Keyboards
Hasitha Madhuranga, Ravi Gamage, Kalpa Hettiarachchi, Harsha Makalande
SVARASANGA VANNAMA
The atonal sounds of the orchestra, Piano, Getaberaya, and Tammattama reverberated in the concert hall of Tokyo Opera City in Japan inspiring the audience to generate a resounding applause! Ravibandhu Vidyapathy, Janath Warakagoda, and Harsha Makalande were invited back on stage by the appreciative audience many times on that evening of the 4th of October in 2007. The orchestra had just performed Harsha Makalande's Concerto for Piano Local Drums and Symphony orchestra with Harsha at the Piano under the baton of Hikotaro Yazaki. The work was composed in 1992 and premiered by the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka under the baton of Dr. Earl De Fonseka in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The main theme of Svarasanga Vannama was premiered by Lalanath De Silva in 1985 for Savasangeetha (a TV program on Rupavahini).
The composer attempts to introduce a structure or form called the 'Perahara Form' in this work. The Perahara is a colourful procession held in Sri Lanka with cultural items presented by folk artistes led by an entourage of Nilames on Elephant-back. The form of this event is items performed one after the other...never coming back to the beginning, but carrying a mystifying link...!
Fusing Local, Oriental And Western Instruments
The Khrome orchestra consists of musicians from different traditions of music. As an example we have Oriental as well as western violinists.
Somapala Ratnayake was brought up gaining experience in the Sri Lankan film industry and Oriental recording industry. His technique of playing the V'cello is a blend of Ragadhari and Western Classical music technique!.
Our Goal!
Our Goal is...
To train young people to form their own music groups!
The vision we have is that all talented Sri Lankans should be given an equal opportunity to achieve their dreams of becoming accomplished musicians and performers.
With that idea in mind we have formulated a program for citizens of Sri Lanka who have undergone basic training in music but who are not in a position to bear the cost of consistent training. We hope that this will pave the way for an entrance to the Sri Lankan music industry! Suitable musical training will be provided to individuals who apply for an interview and pass an aptitude test. They will be enlisted in the Khrome orchestra with respect to the standard they achieve, and when vacancies are available.
Training
This will be provided by senior artistes at Khrome to selected candidates
If you are interested in joining Khrome please fill up the Sign Up form below and send it.
INTERVIEWS
An opportunity will be provided to meet the panel of selectors.
LOCATIONS of the training premises
These locations will be notified to the successful entrants.
There are no AGE restrictions!
Any one who has the aptitude for performing music may apply for training.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Applicant are required to provide a recommendation from an individual holding a responsible position in any recognized institution.
Join Us!
If you are already competent in performing Instrumental or Vocal music, we are interested in providing you with an opportunity and a platform to improve your music career in Sri Lanka! Contact us by first sending sms to +94777380362
Email us with your details to harsha@harshamakalande.com
Students of Harsha Makalande Institute
To be completed....
To be completed.....
To be completed....
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