Goan Konkani music is making another debut internationally!
Included in the Mother India Wassermusik 2015 at the prestigious Haus der
Kulturen der Welt (HKW) in Berlin for the very first time at the instance of
Frankfurt radio executive Sigrid Pfeffer, (a passionate fan of Konkani music),
it will be presented by an ensemble of seven renowned Goan musicians led by
Schubert Cotta under the title Konkani Goan All Stars.
“Konkani has been included for the very first time. It is recognition
of our language and we are very happy for the fact,” avers Schubert. “For me it
is a great joy to take our Konkani songs and play it in a country where I
studied music and also for the fact that it is at such a prestigious festival.”
His sentiments are echoed by teammates Mecxy Cotta (vocals), Carlos Monteiro
(keyboard/vocals/guitar), Glen Jacques (percussions/vocals); Roque Lazarus
(double bass/vocals/guitar), who consider it a privilege to promote not only
Goan Konkani music but its ethos and identity as well on foreign soil. They
will be joined by Sanya Cotta (violinist) and the only foreigner, trumpeter
Saskia from the Netherlands.
Their inclusion in the open air festival which commences on
July 17 and winds down on August 8 is made more commendable by the fact that it
features some of India’s biggest names – Asha Bhosle, Talvin Singh, Rudresh
Mahanthappa, and Shama Rahman – to cite a few.
As the team feverishly practises for their prime time
(8.30pm), 90-minute performance on July 25, the excitement is palpable.
“Although we are all connected musically, we have come together as a team for
the first time. Sigrid chose some of the team members and I brought Roque and
Shelton on board. Roque had done considerable groundwork for the first recording
of ‘Nachom-ia Kumpasar’ in Goa, so he was conversant with the various parts as
well as Lorna’s songs. He has been a tremendous help, especially in view of the
fact that we had just three months to prepare for the festival,” explains
Schubert, while commending the remarkable inputs of all his team mates.
Putting together a repertoire of retro numbers to fit into
the portrayal of an era (‘70s) when Konkani music was at its peak, Schubert
explains, “These are the songs we grew up with. But we have also included some
contemporary songs. We have listed a total of 25 songs which include Lorna’s, H
Britton’s, Mandos, Dulpods, Dekhni including some of my compositions. While
Mecxy is our main vocalist, each one of us will also sing a number,” explains
Schubert.
“We earlier thought
of a full brass session but then we had to do a rethink. Instead of a drum-kit,
we are using percussions. We have put our interpretations to the music, keeping
its original essence intact so that people get an idea of the music that the
Catholic Goans practise. It’s the kind of music played at our weddings, parties
and celebrations.”
Adding to the excitement, the current rage ‘Nachom-ia
Kumpasar’ will be screened after the performance followed by a talk by author
Naresh Fernandes about ‘Goan Musicians in Bombay’.
