Author: Armando Gonsalves
Isn’t music the surest way to being alive? If the God’s are happy with music,
can mortals be far behind? To ‘see and hear and experience’ a live musician at
his best brings out the best in your soul.
Don Bosco was the first place where I saw music in motion, where boys vied with
each other for the prizes on offer for the musical competitions held there.
competition was fierce, virtually a battle field, where the whole school would
cramp itself in a makeshift auditorium to egg the musicians on. It is precisely
this enthusiasm and fierceness of competition, and of course tremendous
dedication that has given Remos, Bondos, Constacios, Diegos, Alexandres and
Lobato Farias. They are men who trained to perfection. and experienced with that
pureness of music that the times demanded and which our geniuses produced.Coming out of school, I still remember the Simla Beat contest, where every
square inch of God given Calangute would be covered with the teeming thousands
of Goans and people from erstwhile Bombay, all pushing and jostling for that
single bit of space that would give them a chance to have a look at the budding
artistes of that time. Thankfully dedicated groups are emerging everywhere.
Whether it is the Goa Guitar Guild which meets every one Sunday of the month,
the Jazz Club having shows with every excuse or local groups encouraging konkani
music, there is hope for live music. Enthusiastic crowds are a testimony to the
fact that ‘live’ is alive and kicking in Goa. In fact Goa, with all it’s
heritage of music can easily be a hub of musical talent from all over the
country.
With the God’s having bestowed nature’s lineage on it, isn’t music the first
thing that we should support? Konkani music is big. It is only short of
marketing savvy at times. Interestingly local musicians are always drawing huge
crowds. Surely konkani can be in that position too! Maybe IMFI? The
International Musical Festival Of India? With so much infrastructure in place
and more importantly, talent that bursts at the seams, isn’t Goa the most
natural place for something like that? But more than anything else, it is we who
have to take the lead. We have to demand good music, support it and nurture it.
Or else, we will soon not be in a position to enjoy music that we all love.
Author: admin
