Back after being EU envoy, Menezes’ mission is now music

PANJIM, JAN 10 — From being an envoy, Antonio Bosco de Souza Menezes would like to be an ambassador for music. His dream is to boost the flagging tastes for Western classical music in Goa, the first region in South Asia where centuries ago Indian musicians began to compose in Western musical forms.

Back to spend his retired life in Goa, Souza Menezes has recently ended a career which saw him representing the European Union in places like Lisbon, Tokyo and Brussels. His last posting was as EU ambassador in Bangladesh. Now, his mission is music.

Giving a boost to Goa’s Western classical skills, he believes, would not only give this place an edge in something it is already unique. But, Souza Menezes says it would also help the cultural diversity of India add on yet another additional shade.

"Western influence is coming into India in a big way in terms of pop music. But there’s not much in terms of classical music reaching here. It’s almost a desert. Though in places like Goa a nuclei of interest can be built up," he says with hope.

Why Western classical? "People must realise that music is universal," says this former envoy, whose ancestral home is in Goa Velha.

Goa, as he points out, has always been a centre for music, and more importantly, one where both West and East has mingled. "To have an orchestra would be a logical conclusion in a place with a lot of talent. We need to tap this," he says.

Currently Souza Menezes says he is trying to get people know about this project, and see what kinds of response is available to such an idea.

"If people think it is a good idea then we are willing to support it and help with the launching of the practices. Later, public performances would need bigger resources. Interested people should come forward (to make a success of this project)," he says.

Souza Menezes says he is particularly keen to find out how much the Goan diaspora would be prepared to back this idea.

"This orchestra would also attract Goan musicians. People here still write (the traditional dance-song) Mando. If some scores could be submitted, they could be worked on by a body of players who could do justice to them," says Nigel Dixon, who is working on the task of setting up the orchestra.

Goa’s is known for its musical greats, in Western music too.

Souza Menezes points to the role of maestro Micael Martins (1914-1999), of Orlim in Salcete. This prominent musician who led orchestras of films in Bombay and is seen as the greatest classical composer in the history of Goan music, also picked up a number of traditional tunes for his arrangements.

There were others too.

In Souza Menezes’ view, the cultural troupe of recent times, Gavana, was an interesting experiment at building a troupe of "cultural ambassadors" for Goa, using the Western music front.

It was led by priest Tomas Aquino Sequeira, the nephew of Maestro Micael Martins. But there were problems in building up a second-line of musicians who could take over, though this troupe did an excellent job in performing across the globe, suggests Souza Menezes.

Menezes was a co-student with author-researcher-fresco painter and theology professor Jose Pereira, who has put out an impressive output of well-researched material on Goan and Konkani culture, language, literature and music, besides a range of other fields.

"We were at St. Xavier’s (the Mumbai college) around 1954-58," says he. Later on, both met in "different parts of the world".

What explains his own love for this form of music?

"Initially it grew in the seminary, where I was for a brief stint. That’s where your love for music really got nursed (in Goa of the past decades)," Souza Menezes reminisces.

Goa’s parish schools too nourished music. "Though I wasn’t in a parish school," he hastens to add.

Everybody had to learn music there. The church musician doubled-up as school teacher. That created a legacy that Goans have so far carried with them — whether in the Hindi films in Mumbai, or in the form of sopranos gaining international fame in Britain and
elsewhere in Europe.

Interestingly, while others learnt the 3 R’s, in Goa there were four taught: reading, ‘riting, ‘rithmetic and also the rebbec (violin).

"It was the seminar that nursed my love for choral and classical music," says Souza Menezes. Of course, in Europe, one can’t "really escape" classical music, as he puts it.

"I’m simply a music lover. That, combined with the fact that with so much musical talent in Goa waiting to be tapped, (this just needs to be done)."

"There are already groups working on the mando, tiatr, guitar and we also have Goan bands performing not just here but all over the world. But classical Western music is all but absent, not just in Goa but in other parts of India too."

Compare this with Malaysia, points out Souza Menezes. It has a full symphony orchestra. Other Asian countries like Korea, Japan and China are also well-placed in the field of Western classical.

In Malaysia’s case, the orchestra is housed in their prestigious showpiece, the Petronas Towers, which incidentally is the tallest building in the world today.

"Malaysia is a very outward-looking Muslim country. It’s very nationalistic, but at the same time open to outside cultures too," says Souza Menezes. "It’s possible to have eclectic interests; you don’t have to choose only one."

Playing down his own achievements, Souza Menezes says his becoming a diplomat was "an accident".

After nearly two-and-half decades (1964-88) in the BBC, both in journalism and management consultancy, he ended up as head of the BBC Portuguese Service.

Then, he joined the European Union, when Portugal became its member. He was appointed representative of the EU in Lisbon. Later, he was posted in Lisbon, Tokyo and Brussels.

Souza Menezes’ final posting was as EU ambassador in Bangladesh. Like many other ‘world wandering’ expat Goans, his student and working life took him to Bombay, Lisbon, US and London too.

"That was the time of the (colonial Portuguese) war of 1961-74. Military service became compulsory, and a lot of young men wanted to shift (out of Portugal)," he recalls.

Souza Menezes believes that public-relations can be effectively carried out through music. He recalls earlier ventures with the European Youth Orchestra.

"That group is devised by the EU to stress its identity as Europe as distinct from being British,
French and so on. Its members come from 15 different countries, live together at times of practice and performance, and then head back for home."

How long would this ambitious plan take in Goa? "A year, a year-and-half, maybe two years. Things move slowly here. It depends," as Souza Menezes points out.
(Herald)