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.
this is one of the best hymns.vivian
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.