Abstract:
Renowned musicologist William Banda (W. B.) Makulloluwa (1922–1984) played a
pivotal role in safeguarding Sri Lanka's rich folk music traditions. Recognizing the
intrinsic value of village songs and the traditional Sinhalese singing style embedded
within local communities, Makulloluwa traversed villages, meticulously
documenting captivating melodic patterns that resonated with the hearts of the
inhabitants. This paper focuses on the restoration and preservation efforts directed
towards an obscure collection of Makulloluwa's field recordings. Collaborating with
the National Archives Sri Lanka, the author meticulously restored spool tape
recordings and digitized the soundtracks. Each tape underwent thorough
examination, cleaning, and documentation, accompanied by the photographing of
tape containers and associated notes. Upon successful digitization, the recordings
were systematically catalogued, encapsulating a diverse array of songs and music.
The collection includes Veddas' Music, lullabies, songs from the Catholic population,
instrumental music, and compositions from folk rituals.
