It was a love affair that began way back in 2001. Backpacking her way through India, Sigrid took a life-altering stop at Goa. “We were the only Western tourists at the bar in our hotel. And suddenly I hear this music being played on All India Radio that I have never heard before in my life, yet at the same time it sounded strangely familiar,” recalls Sigrid of her first introduction to Konkani music. “I was captivated by those songs that reminded me of Italian or French pop from the 1950s/1960s. It evoked associations to Mariachi music, Italian folksongs, Eastern European folklore or Cuban songs. Also, the sounds were so perceptibly different from what we perceive as Indian,” she elaborates.
So enamoured was she by this genre that her subsequent trips to Goa were invested in researching Konkani songs, especially old recordings from the Konkani music heyday era. “When I began, I realised how complex and unique the history of Goan music was,” reveals Sigrid, whose search took her to the by-lanes of Mumbai, the Kala Academy music school and some well-informed sources like Uday Bhembre and Tomazinho Cardozo among others who gave her a deeper insight into Goa’s multifaceted musical traditions.
“I’ve been travelling almost every year to India to meet people and acquire more information. It is like putting together a puzzle, to see the bigger picture and to recognise an interesting parallel to other global musical trends. I also had an opportunity to meet the legendary Lorna and Rita Rose. In 2007 I met author Naresh Fernandes whose book ‘Bombay, Meri Jaan’ influenced my research,” avers Sigrid whose focus zeroed in on early recordings.
“Until recently recordings dating back to the time where this music was at its zenith – the 1950s-70s were unavailable. And many songs were, if at all available, in newer, rerecorded versions. That’s when my long quest began. I often went to Chor Bazaar in Mumbai to buy these old records and later as I was officially permitted produce the album with Trikont I got in touch with Saregama India Ltd and they sent me copies of the master tapes,” reveals Sigrid who then went on to compile the CD ‘Konkani-Songs Music from Bombay – made in Bombay’ (2009) with Trikont Munique.
“It was really difficult to make the selection as I would have liked to include many more songs, but I’ve tried to incorporate different kinds of songs to show the variety,” says Sigrid of her selection and the liner notes for the booklet of the album written by her in both English as well as German. Her love for Konkani cantaram, however, she clarifies, does not detract from her love of Indian classical music.
In the interim, taking advantage of her status as sound technician at Frankfurt’s public radio station — ‘Hessischer Rundfunk’, Sigrid introduced Konkani music over the German air waves with a one hour feature on the ‘Music of the World’ programme (2008) and in February this year some more were aired the weekly programme ‘Kaiser’s Klange’. In May again she hosted a programme ‘Blue Notes of Bombay’ at Frankfurt’s ‘Radio X’ station.
Hearing Schubert, Mexcy and Carlos playing at Gonsalves Mansion in 2010 opened another prospect. At her instance, Konkani was included in the Mother India Wassermusik 2015 Berlin for the very first time where Schubert and troupe are performing a 90-minute programme on Saturday. “It was always a dream for me to bring Konkani music abroad. The concert at HKW is a big step,” avers Sigrid, who is keen to continue her plans.
“I would also like to showcase both musical traditions of Goa within a concert or a festival one day. My next endeavour might be another radio feature or even a film documentary; to continue looking for old recordings and speaking with musicians in Goa and Mumbai,” she envisages as she continues to bask in a genre of music that continues to captivate
her.
