One of the biggest challenges Papara faces, is acceptance in conventional music circles, especially among classical musicians. In 2023, I sought to bridge this gap by collaborating with the Gustav Mahler Society of Colombo. At their “GMSC Brass LIVE!” concert, I arranged the Papara standard Reta Kamu Api Wambatu (the local version of “Never on a Sunday”) for a classical brass ensemble.
Performance snippet: Never on Sunday/ GMSC Brass
The piece was performed for a regular classical audience, with no prior warning that they were about to hear Papara. The performance demonstrated that Papara, far from being a “inferior” form, demands technical mastery, rhythmic precision, and ensemble cohesion equal to any other concert repertoire. Initial skepticism from musicians and audiences shifted to appreciation as they recognized its technical demands, energy, and cultural depth.
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