Assembling a choir is
never an easy task and one can then
imagine the complexity of piecing together over 250 Goan singers and musicians
in different time zones across the globe for a virtual choir during the
challenging times of a global pandemic.
That was exactly what the Global Goan Alliance & Network
(GGAN) achieved by banding together a virtual choir to encourage Goans all
across the globe to express solidarity and come together to honour all those
facing the COVID-19 epidemic at the forefront.
In a first-ever globally coordinated venture of its kind, the
Global Goan Virtual Choir, a diverse group of Goans from across the global
diaspora and steered by Goan-born and Bangalore-based Dr Maya Mascarenhas, came
together to create a network of Goan communities, bringing to life their dream
of building up One Global Goan entity – of a people with commonly shared
ancestry, heritage and roots.
“This was an opportunity to connect and acquaint with people in
the diaspora and work in unity with the true spirit of Goemkarponn. It was also
a huge treasure trove of talent explored across various continents, regions and
varying age groups of people bound by one common purpose during these times of
adversity” recalled Maria Gomes Fernandes, a key member of the GGAN.
“It was also a good and valuable use of technology and various
forms of media to communicate despite being spread all over the globe, and
harnessing the talent and energies of people.”
“We wanted English, Portuguese and Konkani songs which would be
attractive to Goans and non-Goans. It had to be familiar and not about COVID,
but to promote solidarity among Goans across the world.”
According to Fernandes, a core group of Goans from different
places were involved in the project.
“Gerard from Australia contacted his friend, Josefato, who sent a
video of what he put together with his kids. I took that as the base and
arranged the song. Subsequently, a few lyrics were modified and I extended the
song. We did not want it to exceed 2.5 minutes, which is the ideal length for
the young generation to watch the full song,” said Dr Maya
“We were able to get around 250 people who either wanted to sing
or play for this virtual choir. When it comes to musicians, we want
representation from all over the world and so, we selected the best and those
who could record audio with studio quality,” said Fernandes.
While the project was the brainchild of key GGAN members, Rene
Barreto, Savio Ribeiro, Gerard Lobo, Maria Gomes Fernandes, Floscy Gracias,
Samantha Pashaa and Perry Goes, the team acknowledged all singers and musicians
on the project.
The music was composed by Maestro Josefato Vales (Melbourne),
while Dr Maya Mascarenhas (Bangalore) did the arrangement and edited the
project with the support of Aurville Rodrigues and Konrad of Audio Masters
(Goa), and Sheldon Gomes and Edlebert of Foremen Studio (Goa).
Another GGAN member, Perry Goes, said diverse Goans from different
parts of the world reached out to each other in this period of lockdown and
despair, connecting as never before, their cultural roots binding them all
together as one.
“We wish that these bonds grow stronger as we emerge from this
pandemic. We take this opportunity to recognise and thank all those in the
frontline fighting this pandemic.”
“The Global Goan Virtual Choir’s short medley of Konkani, English
and Portuguese songs were recorded by singers and musicians in the safety of
their homes, before sending them to us,” said Goes.
“This is the first of many more projects in the pipeline, but we
need people to join hands with us. First, to celebrate this video and sharing
it with others and then, to participate in all our future events,” he added.
Savio
Rodrigues of California-USA, said it was no mean feat to collaborate with 250
singers and musicians from different parts of the world, with different time
zones working in unison, “to make sure that the end product would be the one
that would be enjoyed and cherished by all, for the love of Goa and Maim-bhas
Konkani.”
