*This book, about one band, offers unusual insights into Goan music of two generations ago*
MARGAO, May 31: It is the zoomed-in story of one band. Yet it connects with so much of the musical history of Goa, and some prominent musicians who created it especially from the Salcete area. A book to be released on Wednesday in Margao offers an insightful story that would have gone unnoticed. 'Symphony of Passion' traces the musical journey of a group of musicians and their band set up in memory of a musical genius in the 1950s. “What began as a brief message on a WhatsApp group turned into a mission over the past two years. Efforts were made to identify a group of musicians from rare photos preserved in an old diary and to locate their relatives. Unexpected stories began to emerge from friends and relatives of these musicians,” says author Melvyn S. Misquita, a journalist with *The Goan* newspaper in Panjim. This book starts with Pedro Santana Fernandes, a musician from Assolna, receiving mail from his Margao-based band-leader Alvito da Costa, about an upcoming show in Majorda -- on 14 May 1955. Shows were infrequent then, and each meant some earning. Valmiki Faleiro, journalist, in a foreword to the book points to the immense musical talent within a few hundred metres from the city church square. He writes: "Much the same way as the four Konkani greats, all the four founders of the Margão Quartet, about whom this book is about, were from the neighbourhood: Alvito da Costa, Ronaldo Coutinho, José Gracias (all from Borda) and Anacleto de Figueiredo -- scion of the great maestro Antonio Fortunato de Figueiredo of Loutulim -- who resided a shout away at the Old Market." They were soon joined by their friend and mentor Joe Perry, who was said to be a genius in music, who had returned home as he was in poor health. Joe died at the tender age of 28 in 1952. He was the brother of Chris Perry. who later became immensely famous in Goan music. As a tribute to their mentor and friend, the others formed a band called the 'Joe Blues'. Misquita, the son-in-law of one of its founders, came across a detailed dairy, on which this book is based. Some discussions began on the Bands in Goa (BiG) WhatsApp group. From obituary cards, record covers, inlay notes, personal memories and old photographs, besides, importantly, the seventy-year-old diary, the book was carefully pieced together by the author through the memories and collections of many. It tells the story of how it got written, and then flashbacks to the musicians' endeavours going back seven decades. Tragedy, deaths, triumphs, telling photos from the yesteryears, lists of the many musicians who were part of the band, are all featured here. There are surprising links with sports, and Jazz, through the Voice of America radio station! Fifty pages of photos, news-cuttings, music sheets and other memorabilia also add to the work. Its pages give an insight into the music and musicians of the Goa of their times, and their determination, which helped them build a formidable reputation far and wide. The book will be launched at the Black Box in Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, on June 1 at 4.30 pm. Limited copies will be available at a special discount on launch day. This event will feature songs the band had played seven decades ago. Performances will be by Ravi Coutinho, Mercy Fernandes, fadista Nadia Rebelo and young Aanora Gracias, all relatives of the bandmates, with music by Kevin Mendes. "Goan music has been admired the world over, but ... only a very few musicians have become famous over the decades, while the rest have largely remained unsung and forgotten," says the author. "We do hope similar stories emerge from the several other bands and musicians from Goa, because we need to give Goan musicians the recognition they so richly deserve," Misquita adds. Misquita's other works, besides his long journalistic stint, include a monograph on a British ship (Brittania) sunk during World War II with many Goan seamen on board, including his relative, which was widely noticed in the national media when first brought out. Likewise, he has also penned a detailed work on the '*Gaianacho Jhelo*' (The Garland of Hymns), a book of religious music in Konkani with many interesting aspects of how it came about. Another project is a directory of Goan musicians. Interestingly, Misquita himself has a background in music, and has performed in a band in his younger days. ### SEE PHOTO: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fn-goa/52111579520/in/datetaken/ *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Join a discussion on Goa-related issues by posting your comments on this or other issues via email to goa...@goanet.org See archives at http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/ *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-