THE WELL-KNOWN GOAN MUSICIAN PETER RODRIGUES.

THE RENOWNED GOAN MUSICIAN PETER RODRIGUES FROM CANDOLIM.

Seen above is Peter Rodrigues with his Saxophone

The village Candolim was known to produce some of the finest musicians in Goa, they learnt this skill of playing music from the Parochial (Church) school starting from the Church Choir Master Agostinho D’Souza who was the Professor of my father, Alexinho de Candolim, Dioginho Vaz, Gonsales Bostiao and many more of that era.  In one of his songs in praise of his Professor Agostinho D’Souza, his renowned student Alexinho de Candolim sings thus:

Konnuch volkonastana aschenant bhavani hangasor

Agostinho de Souza Candolim igorjecho Professor

Mistirpon tanne choloilem vorsam Cheallis bhor

Bharkaen tachem jivit ami niallun pollet tor

Bharikuch aslo khoro pun xinkop tachem chodd vhodd

Tachea hathan kitle xinkon zalet Band Mastor

Kantorist sadoitat Stage ani Igorzanche Kor

Derrepent melo babddo Saiba Sorg taka favo khor.

That was the great eulogy the great Tiatrist Alexinho de Candolim made of his Teacher. The words are so measured and so appropriate that I, doubt any other Tiatrist could compose such a beautiful song. That was the greatness of Alexinho de Candolim on whom the great educationist of Goa and also the great Principal of St. Joseph’s High School Arpora, Fr. Philiph Neri Mendonca passed a remark thus: “Oh my goodness ! What Alexinho de Candolim !!  If this man had a little more educational background he would be a genius”.

Peter is seen above playing his Saxophone

Overwhelming majority of Candolim Musicians were the products of local Parochial School which was closed somewhere in mid Sixties and thus came the end of producing Solfist Musicians from Candolim Church School and thus losing the earlier beauty and grandeur the Church Choir had under the Choir Masters.  Now there is no Church Mestiri to teach how to sing in the Church nor to teach Solfas thus among Candoikars producing NO SOLFIST MUSICIANS.  Some of the beautiful musical works of the Church recorded with Solfas are no more in existence now for our current and future generations.  This is how the beautiful Motets are gone into extinction from our Churches. I hope our Church authority at Altinho, Panjim will do something to revive the old system in our local Churches.   This should be done with the employment of  a Mistiri for every Church in Goa and with the help of his knowledge of Solfas he will surely give a bright look for our Church Choir.  Money should not be a problem, every Sunday every village Church is collecting so many thousands of rupees from where a portion can be allocated as salary for the Mistiri.

The last topmost Solfist Musician Trumpeter of Candolim was the late Andre Cursino a powerful member of the “Merry Makers” Band while the late Maestro  Isidore the father of Tiatrist Young Menezes rattled Goa with his top efficiency in playing music on Solfas.  His favourite instrument was Doublebass.

Peter is seen at extreme left

However, in Candolim now the lone top solfist musician who carry forward the tradition of Candoicars as the best musician is none other than Peter Rodrigues from Pintos Vaddo, who by being a member of Chris Perry’s troupe playing the important instrument Saxophone for the Musical Show (Tiatro) “Nouro Mhozo Devchar” written, composed and directed by Chris Perry, created a strong impact of his musical prowess when Chris Perry with Lorna and others staged the said Tiatro in Bombay and in Goa in April, 1971. Our Candoicar musician was the strong member of Chris’ troupe playing with Chris the most important instrument Saxophone. However, much before this Tiatro, Peter Rodrigues was already a member of Chris Perry’s Band playing at various occasions at various places in Bombay.

Peter Rodrigues learnt to play music at an early age under the guidance of his musician father who was during those days one of the best musicians in Bombay.  Peter Rodrigues attained the perfection in playing Violin at the age of 10 in Bombay where he  developed his musical skill under his father who took lot of care to train his son appropriately well. Some of the members in the family of Peter Rodrigues were very good musicians including his father the late Joaquim Luis Rodrigues who got great distinction of playing in the Orchestra of Zubin Mehta and in Bollywood Films. Being a humble man, his father never aspired for self glory and pompousness of his profession. Being a strict disciplinarian, his father never touched the Drinks but unlike many in the profession remained Teetotaler throughout his life.

 

                                          Peter is seen playing Saxophone for IFFI in 2009

Though music was his first love yet Peter took it as a hobby  and never survived on music to earn his daily bread.  This daily bread he earned thru his permanent job elsewhere as a professional in Bombay.  After a few years in Bombay he was recruited to Bahrain  and returned to Bombay in 1975 and till 1976 continued playing with various groups in Bombay. Later he  left Bombay on 20^th Nov. 1976 with Chris’ Band for Jumairah Hotel, Dubai. He came to Goa for good in 1977.  In Goa he never remained idle but joined  groups that played for Hotels – Resorts – 5 Star Hotels including the Taj at Sinquerim and earned laurels for him.  In 2015 he started training the youngsters in music with Solfas and thus he trained so many students who with their knowledge of playing music with Solfas are happy.  This knowledge of music with Solfas is like the knowledge of international language which  can be used anywhere in the world.  Where Esperanto failed – the language of Solfas succeeded.

Having considerable knowledge of three instruments, namely Saxophone – Violin – Organ he still maintains the mastery over Saxophone which according to him fetched him monetarily as well as social gains. 

When questioned him, why we Goans now mainly the Catholics and especially the Candoicars inspite of having a great tradition of music are become orphans and so poor in this field, replied he “because our current generation is not ready to take pains to do the hard work and learn Solfas. The present music trend is not Solfas but sequencing (including miming and noise).  Music without Solfas is like a man without eyes”.   

A.Veronica Fernandes.

STOP CHEAT MIGRANT/BHAILE VOTERS FROM VOTING IN GOA.

The elections may be announced in Goa at any moment for the by-elections  or the Parliamentary or for the Goa Legislative Assembly in the aftermath of the dissolution of Assembly which looks to be a certainty.  However, the voting power of the Migrants will be powerful this time due to their numerical strength. In almost every Goan village there are settlements of migrants who are hoisted on Goa by the crook politicians as their vote bank thus ignoring the voice of genuine Goans.

These settlements are protected  by our politicians whose backbone are these non - Goan voters who are least bothered to analyse  the intricacies of the needs of Goans.  Hence, the migrant voters are  tools in the hands of candidates contesting the elections in their constituencies. These candidates distribute them currency notes in small denominations only which the migrants receive  it as if it is the big gifts. 

In my locality in the last election I noticed  how the Marie Antoinette from Panchayat was distributing ill-gotten cash money to the people in and around my area on behalf of the top  candidate.  This lady  a regular Church goer and recipient of the Holy Communion is not even ashamed to commit such corrupt practices to satisfy her boss who poured money like water.  The same boss will be ready this time too to spend bigger amount in bribing the migrant voters.

The Marie Antoinette and her boss may have an excuse saying the money they have distributed are for the charity purpose but if it is so, then why was it distributed during the election time only and why not at some other time? During the other time is it prohibited to do charity?   This indicates the ulterior motive of the distribution of this money which really looked to woo the voters to the election contesting candidates and thus gain the votes by the candidates.     

Many of these migrant voters are not permanent residents in Goa though they have  voting cards in Goa as well as in their own States.  During the Goa elections, their Goan candidates bring these voters  to Goa by special buses to vote for them and return them back immediately after they vote.  

In view of this, is there any way to stop this business of bringing hired electorates to Goa and also  to delete their names from the election roll in Goa?  By doing this chicanery these bloody rascal “Bhaile” voters are doing a great injustice and harm to Goa and Goans and as such they should be disfranchised by the election commission. Dual voting rights are given for dual citizens and since India does not allow dual citizenship, Indians are not allowed to vote for two places. Hence, the mockery of the voting rights India gives to its citizens should be properly taken care of.  Because of these rascal candidates and their stooges who vote for them, the whole exercise of democratic process of voting is become a farce allowing the idiots Altu – Faltu persons to gain the victory in the election while they are fit for nothing, not even cleaning the tables in the elected houses namely Panchayats and Legislative Assmebies or in the Parliament. 

Goa was known to have electoral democracy much before this Ghanttiachem Raj came into Goa and converted Goa into a “Bhaileanchem” raj who are the worst enemies of Goa and Goans, of course with the exception of a few.  By all means we the genuine Goans should not allow these bloody Bhaile to take a foothold in Goa by getting elected in our system becaue by being Bhaile they will always oppose the  good of genuine Goans. They must be treated as “Bhaile are Bhaile only”, they will always work against the interest of genuine Goans, of course with the exception of few, the Bhaile  will always be selfish using Goan resources legally or illegally to gain benefit for them.  Hence, we must be repulsive towards Bhaile either in our Panchayats or Legislative Assembly or in any other associations.  They will enter Goa like slaves but gradually become masters of Goa and Goans by using dirty tricks and satanic actions which they learnt in their dirty land outside Goa where they were born and developed otherwise they will never be able to build their business empires in Goa whch they built not from their hard earned money but thru cheating the people and extorting bribe from the public.  When we deal with the Bhaile we must always keep in our minds that we are dealing with the “Rostad Bamtte” who will oppose the Goans for speaking the truth and exposing the crooks.  Our enemy in Goa is none other than the “Bhaile” holding some sort of political power which they will use against us Goans. Hence, do not support “BHAILE”

A.Veronica Fernandes.

TIATRO "UZVADD TUCA DIUN" by MENINO DE BANDAR.

Candolim in the Church School Compound I saw the new Tiatro as titled above, written and directed by the well–known director Menino de Bandar who is also known as King of centuries whose record of staging more number of Shows still remained unsurpassed. Though the attendance was not to the capacity yet the Tiatro was good depicting the current events on family life where the director indicated how the modern day daughters-in-law due to their lust for extramarital life and a share in the family property  bring destruction on their married life. The roles of the two daughters-in-law namely Shamila and Lavina who are responsible to create a rift  and discord in their family were excellent but among all the role played by the veteran and seasoned artiste Annie Quadros of Grand Mother was superb, in fact she shouldered the major responsibility of the entire story with her appropriate vocabulary, perfect clarity of her expressions and her actions.  

One of the scenes

Menino de Bandar on his solo

I doubt there is anyone on Konkani Stage currently who can act the way  she acted. However, the only flaw to a bit extent was her dress code that is wearing of her luxurious Sarees in the first part that gave her more youthful looks when she should be just the opposite being the grand mother. As it is her looks and structure are youthful and by decorating her physique with these Sarees she looked more youthful. However, she deserved highest compliments for giving a strong booster to this Tiatro to raise its level to the pedestal.

Inacio Verdes on his solo

Another scene

The others who really brought laurels to this Tiatro was Maxy especially in the last scene when while concluding his delivery which was so beautiful and so well worded with so much of perfection, meaningful and flawless that the ending part becomes very interesting. Satyawan Tari also played his role well.

Yet another scene

In the comedy role all the tree comedians led by Humbert played their roles well but at one particular point while delivering his expression one of the comedians because of stammering looks giving different meaning of his expression which was not palatable.   Not to give a distorted meaning of the words it is better not to introduce such scenes in the Tiaatros. However, after the Tiatro I met many persons who attended this Tiatro and all of them confessed that they have enjoyed this Tiatro very much.  Since this Tiatro is in progress all over Goa, I don’t give the real story but leave it to the audience to go for this Tiatro and see for themselves and enjoy the story written so well by Menino de Bandar and so well enacted by all the artistes.

Ashton on his solo

Annie Quadros

A duet by Jose & his partner 

Special praises should be showered on the young girl Skyla who played her role of the grand daughter so beautifully at this so young age.  The director surely deserved a word of praise for training her so well.  Her title song was also well rendered.

One more scene

In the Side Show songs, the songs rendered by the director Menino de Bandar with his majestic personality, Ashton, Saby de Divar, Ron (all three on local politics) and Lavina on Vailankani were excellent deserving more compliments.

                                 Menino de Bandar presenting the Housie Prize to Vincente

The lone local artiste Inacio Verdes rendered a beautiful song on the late Fr. Victor who served the Parish of Candolim for a few years.  It was very interesting song liked by the audience.

Saby de Divar on his solo

While concluding I congratulate Menino de Bandar for this nice Tiatro and also his entire troupe including the musicians.

                                          Lovely Lavina seen singing her solo Vailankani

A word of appreciation to all those who tirelessly worked so hard to stage this Tiatro in Candolim because of whom the locals got a very good opportunity to see this Tiatro.  I hope they will continue on with showing more and more Tiatros for the Candoicars who are traditionally great lovers of Tiatros. And I also hope the local Church leaders the Pe. Vigar and Pe. Cur will give all their normal co-operation in this matter.     

A.Veronica Fernandes.