Konkani Music Festival

HISTORIC KONKANI MUSIC FESTIVAL

- Exclusive Report & Pictures by Alister Miranda

Konkani Music fever has virtually gripped Goa, and Margao in particular, which plays host to the historic first ever Konkani Music Festival, which is all set to take off at 1630 hrs (IST) tomorrow (February 9, 2002).

click on thumbnail images for larger ones

Close up of Stage Name - Close up of stage - Detail on roof of pandal

Hectic finishing touches were being given to the pandal and stage (that has been named after the late Chris Perry) by the dedicated organisers, led by the untiring co-ordinator Sai Palondikar till late this evening. Fr. Peter Cardozo and his handpicked musicians converged on the venue at 1930 hrs for a final rehearsal.

Emiliano etc - Inside of Pandal - moghobai kurdikar1

Given the honour to musically open the Festival, Maestro Fr Cardozo informed that he had composed a 15-minute non-stop piece that would start with Raag Bhageshree – the Alaap sung by Fr Cardozo, and move on to dulpods, Chris Perry’s 'Lisboa' and many other Konkani favourites. An ensemble comprising four violins, two trumpets, one saxophone, four guitars, one drum set, three gumots, one congo and five singers would belt out the East-West fusion composition.

moghobai kurdikar2 - Musician priests - Musicians waiting to rehearse

Abdonio Rodrigues – ace drummer who has played under the baton of the legendary Frank Fernandes for the Konkani films 'Amchem Noxib' and 'Nirmon'), Agnelo Dias (trumpet), Peter Lobo (saxophone), ex-deputy superintendent of Goa police Domingos Rodrigues (violin), Fr. Neri Mendes (violin) and Fr. Freddy Rodrigues (guitar) are some of the prominent musicians in Fr. Cardozo’s line-up.

moghobai kurdikar2[1] - Rehearsal 2 - Rehearsal 3

A terrecotta bust of the great Indian classical singer the late Moghubai Kurdikar (sculpted by Valentino Gaspar from Verna) was ready and waiting to be unveiled by her daughter, the celebrated Goan classical singer Kishori Amonkar, who will then be escorted to the dais to the tunes of noted musician Emiliano da Cruz’ Mandolin.

Rehearsal 5 - Rehearsal 6 - roof of pandal

The Konkani tiatrists too are all geared up to unleash a 2 ½ hour tiatr-based presentation. Co-ordinated by Agnelo de Borim and John Claro, to sing the popular cantaram to Mariano Rodrigues’ arrangement are M.Boyer, Remmie Colaco, Antonette Mendes, Rita Rose, Joe Rose, H Britton, Jr. Rod, C. D’Silva, Wilson & Sharon Mazarello, Young Chico, Mil-Mel-Nel and Anthony San. Providing rib-ticklers will be Prince Jacob, Humbert, John D’Silva and Selvy.

stage named after Chris Perry - Trumpeter Agnel Dias - View of Entrance

The arrival of the Mangalorean musicians led by Eric Ozario and Wilfy Remimbus was eagerly awaited as we left the venue at 2130 hours to the strains of Fr.Cardozo’s Alaap.

Although positive enthusiasm permeated all around the empty pandal, a negative whiff wafted across as a small pessimistic sounding group expressed fears of poor attendance since the event coincided with the Carnival.

They were also animatedly discussing the misunderstandings that led to singer Ulhas Buyao non-participation in the Festival.

Solidly backed by the Dempo Group, the Festival is aimed at bringing together Konkani music of every form and style.

We wish it all success.

Long live Konkani Music!!!!!!

For pictures on the event,

pls view them at www.goa-world.com/news/

www.goa-world.com/music - Goa-world.net's 1st International Music Station in Konkani Online.

A Tribute to late Chris Perry

www.goa-world.com/chrisperry/

Renowned artists to perform at Konkani music fest

From Our Margao Bureau

MARGAO, Feb 8: A number of celebrated artists will be performing during the two-day Konkani Music Festival, to be held at Margao, on Saturday, February 9 and Sunday, February 10.

During the first session, a programme titled Mangloorchim Bhangralim Pada organised by Eric Ozario with performance by Mandd Sobhann troupe will be held, from 5.40 p.m to 8 p.m. Eric OzarioSinger, composer, innovator, cultural activist and president of Mandd Sobhann troupe, based in Mangalore. He has been conducting experiments in music and all aspects of Konkani culture for the revival of Konkani folklore and for the preservation, promotion, enrichment and transmission of Konkani culture to the future generations. He has established a Konkani Heritage Centre, ‘Kalangan’ at Mangalore which was inaugurated on December 2, last year. He has given over 500 performances in India and abroad and performs regularly on Doordarshan, Bangalore. He has twelve albums of self-composed songs to his credit and other compilations of documented music. At the festival, he will be performing best of Mangalorian melodies.

In second session titled Goenche Nav Vodd Korun, which is Indian classical based music, the performers will be Usha Amonkar, Pt Prabhakar Karekar and Ajit Kadkade and they will present songs from 8.30 p.m to 10.30 p.m.Usha AmonkarUsha Amonkar began her training in classical music at the age of seven. She was born in Margao. Her Guru, Pt Nivruttibua Sarnaik nurtured and moulded her talent over the years. Usha Amonkar is one of the illustrious performers of the Jaipur Gharana. Her training in light music and Ghazal gayaki was from Pandit K Mahavir, Govindprasad Jaipurwale and Ustad Aslam Khan, who helped to mould her classical voice and adopt it to the lighter medium. Numerous music critics have appreciated the quality of Usha’s singing and her wide range and versatility. Her voice is soft, sweet, sensitive and melodious. Pt Prabhakar KarekarPt Prabhakar Karekar is a very familiar figure on the concert scenes of classical music, throughout India.A vocalist groomed in North Indian style, he has also earned a name for him abroad, having travelled extensively in the US, UK and Gulf countries. Hailing from Goa, Pt Karekar left his native place at the tender age of fourteen in quest of music. Initiated into the fundamentals of classical music by Pt Suresh Haldankar, he was later awarded a national scholarship by the government of India. Pt Karekar has also sung songs from Marathi musical dramas, Natyasangeet.Ajit KadkadeAjit Kadkade hails from Bicholim and is groomed under the expert guidance of leading vocalist of Agra Gharana, Pt Jitendra Abhisheki. Kadkade has participated in a number of national concerts of classical music. He has also acted in several Marathi musicals like Kadhitari Kothetari and Amrit Mohini. He has also well adapted at singing Bhakti Sangeet or devotional music.

On Sunday, February 10, during the third session named Loknad, folk music, Guduleam Gani (Canacona), Ovio (village activity songs), Siddhi dance (Yellapur, Karnataka), Ghumat Aarti, Taal Vadya (Madhusudan Thaly and group, Chodnem), Ghumtavaili Padam (Prashant Naik and group, Mashem), Mando and Dulpod (Elvis Group, Quepem), Ranmalle Chepai (Sattari Group) will be performed, from 10.45 a.m to 1.30 p.m. In the fourth session, Soor Mhonve Mhonve, Raghunath Phadke and other local artists will be performing. Besides Phadke, Shakuntala Bharne, Rajni Thakur, Gauri Naik Bhat, Pratap Amonkar, Shirish Lawande, Anil Sawant, Purnanand Chari, Sourabh Sawkar, Bindiya Vasth, Samiksha Bhobe, Rajesh Madgaonkar, Narsinv Pai will perform folk-based and light classical popular Konkani songs, from 2.00 p.m to 4.30 p.m.The fifth session will be of ‘Geet, Guitar and Cantar’ from 5 p.m to 7.30 p.m. In this session, M Boyer, Rita Rose, H Britton, Antonette, Anthony San, Young Chico, Mil-mel-nel and Joe Rose will be performing popular tiatro songs. There will be a comedy skit by John D’Silva and Selvy. Musical arrangements will be done by Mariano Rodrigues, Chagas, Abdonio Rodrigues, Linda Diniz and others.

In the sixth session named Painzon anni Mandaolinam popular stars like Philip Fortes, Lulu and Group, Wilfy Rebimbus and group from Mangalore, besides internationally famed artist, Remo Fernandes will be performing, from 8 p.m to 10.30 p.m.Wilfy RebimbusWilfy has composed over 2,500 songs and presented over 500 musical shows. He has also composed music, songs and written story for the Konkani colour movie Mog and Moipas in 1977. He has also composed music, written songs for the Konkani movie Bogsane, released in 1996, for Konkani video film Kazara Uprant in 1988 and written songs for Tisri Cheet. He has held over 30 musical shows in Bahrain, Kuwait, and other parts of Middle East.Philip Fortes BandThis band popularly known as ‘Rhythm and Blues’ is a seven-piece band that plays totally live music with Philip Fortes from Orlim on bass and vocals, Lulu on vocals, Connie on Keyboards, James on drums along with other musicians. They will be performing popular songs by late Chris Perry and other greats.Remo FernandesRemo Fernandes, a Goan artist of international repute, will give a performance at the festival. Perhaps for the first time during his musical career, the internationally acclaimed artist will have a musical programme, with traditional musicians of Goa playing traditional instruments.

For his performance at the festival, Remo plans to use many more traditional instruments and sing Konkani numbers, as a gesture towards his love for Goa and Goan Konkani music.

Remo has cut several musical audio and video albums, besides lending his voice to films like Jalwa and Pyar to hona hi tha.

Courtesy Navhind Times On The Web

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