Sri Lanka: Sounding heritage

Rudi van Straten, Sounding Heritage Senior Specialist at the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE), has been on a mission in Sri Lanka to examine and give advice on two historical pipe organs in Galle and Colombo.

375^th Anniversary of Dutch Reformed Church in Sri Lanka
This mission is part of the 375th anniversary of the Dutch Reformed Church in Sri Lanka. As the church would like to revitalise the historically valuable organs in Galle and Colombo, it approached the Embassy of the Netherlands in Sri Lanka, with this mission as a result.

Awareness of sounding heritage
Besides pipe organs, church bells and even temple drums can also be part of the sounding heritage of Sri Lanka. Van Straten believes that it is important to integrate this sounding heritage in a broader programme in order to create awareness. Awareness is needed for sustainable preservation.

Restoration programme
If the two organs are to successfully have a sustainable future, it is important that both instruments can make a musical contribution not only to church services, but to the social life of the church community as well. Therefore, Rudi van Straten and stakeholders also discussed how to involve as many people as possible in the restoration programme.