Peter de Xelvona has excelled on drums for tiatrs, but for funerals and feasts, he has also been equally skillful with his tenor and alto saxophone. Peter Pereira, popularly known as Peter de Xelvona in tiatr circles, was born on March 15, 1951. He studied in Guardian Agnel High School, Sanvordem and at the tender age of 8-9 he picked up the nuances of drums under the guidance of his cousin brother, Silvester Mascarenhas.
At the age of 10, while at school, Peter started drumming for small functions which included ‘swario’, dances and feasts. In 1961, it was for the first Hindu wedding of Ramchandra Xanu Dessai of Voilowado, Xelvona that brought him to limelight as a drummer.
Thereafter, bookings and performances at weddings continued in and around Xelvona, Panchwadi, Curchorem and neighbouring villages. He also played for school gatherings with choir master, late Antonio Diniz and late Agusto de Panchwadi.
Initially, Peter learnt the violin and the trumpet from his uncle, Damiao Fernandes, who was then the choir master of Sanguem church. Tutorials in saxophone followed from Milagres Fernandes. He was fortunate to play the banjo during his school days for Albert Carvalho’s tiatr ‘Sonvsaracher Mhozo Visvas Na’.
After completing SSC in 1971, Peter found an entry in G A Circus in 1973, where his cousin, Jack Santan from Sanguem was performing on the drums. “It was a one-year contract, with trips to Maharastra, Karnataka, including Goa,” he recalled.
After performances for weddings and circus, Peter made an entry into the tiatr field in 1974 in R Moraes non-stop tiatr ‘Natram’, where late Agusto de Panchwadi was the leader of the band. Thereafter, performances continued in tiatrs by Rosario Dias, Vitorin Pereira, Mike Mehta, A. M. Pacheco, Joaquim Faleiro, Lawry Travasso, Menino Mario, Felipe Almeida, Saby Pinto, George Fernandes, Telles Moraes, Anthony San, Pascoal Rodrigues, John Claro, John D’Silva, C D’Silva, H Briton, Inacio de Canacona, Milagres de Chandor, Reginaldo de Panchwadi, William de Curtorim and Ives Tavares. In 1976-77, he also played in Churchill Alemao’s tiatr ‘Vatt ani Bhatt’, with Agusto de Panchwadi as the band leader.
Peter never missed any opportunity crossing his path, be it performances with the saxophone or the drums. He has also performed in orchestras and musical shows, which included Kala Kendr Orchestra, Quepem (1974), Geet Ganga, Quepem (1974-75), Toofan Orchestra directed by Shivaji Borkar, Sugandras Orchestra directed by Damodar Naik and a Konkani musical show by Ulhas Buyao.
Apart from his contribution towards music, Peter also had a tryst with khell tiatrs. He penned and staged two of them, namely ‘Saukaranchem Nanv Vibaddlem’ and ‘Hanvuch To Krimidor’ (1975). He also penned and staged two tiatrs, ‘Opradhi vo Niropradhi’ (1976) and ‘Nhoim Konn’ (1979).
Despite his dedicated service as a foreman in PWD department, Peter always found time for his passion. His contribution cannot be ignored for Lenten shows as well, with assistance to late Fr Planton Faria and Calado de Verna as a tenor saxophonist.
Peter served as a government employee at Sanvordem from 1980 and retired from service in 2011 at Panaji. But his inclination towards tiatr and all things related to the Konkani stage prompted him to put up a musical play ‘Hanvuch To Belioza’ at All India Radio (AIR) in 1979.
Peter’s involvement with ‘mando’ came about when William Fernandes from Curchorem roped in his troupe ‘Suadik Sad’ at the annual Mando Festival held at Kala Academy and organized by the Goa Cultural and Social Centre. “Lack of knowledge about the ‘ghumot’ only prompted Fr Peter Cardozo to guide and tutor me with the traditional and unique instrument at the mando festival,” he confessed.
At the National Traditional Festival of India, Peter was part of the troupe led by Aggie with tiatr ‘Rantel’. With assistance from Kala Academy, he moved to northern-eastern states of India, Sikkim, Tripura, Mizoram and Siliguri as a drummer.
Peter was also part of the folk plays (zomnivhele fell) presented during the Carnival festival since 1974. He continued with his performance in troupes by different directors till 2016.
Peter was much sought for feasts and funerals in and around his village. When noted tiatrist, M Boyer passed away at Raia in 2009, he was fortunate to play the saxophone for his funeral.
In 2016, after giving his performance for a funeral, the following day he got a stroke, followed by one-sided paralysis. Since then, he has been recuperating from his illness, but never returned to his passion of drumming and blowing instruments.
For any feast or funeral, Peter was well versed with those typical numbers played by the brass band. He would be there with his tenor saxophone, blowing it to glory, following the notes provided by noted drummer Abdonio Rodrigues.
For his immense contribution towards music and tiatr, Peter was felicitated by Sankalp Theatre, Curchorem in 2009. He was also honoured by Ravindra Bhavan, Curchorem in 2018, in memory of late Albert Carvalho.