* building understanding and community through
music *
Goans and Friends of Goa !
I am so proud to share with you Goans and Friends of Goa
a write up by Judy.
Thanks to Goans like Judy , Goans and non -Goans are learning Konkani !
Music can bring Goans TOGETHER , some of us would call that UNITY.
This is a positive way forward .
.
Thank you Judy .
rene barreto
Americans Sing in Konkani
by Judy Luis-Watson, June 22, 2003
For the first time, on June 8, 2003 in Maryland, USA, BluesWorks and friends
presented "Songs of Change and Promise," a new cross-cultural concert that I
produced in part with a small artist's grant from Prince George's Arts
Council. Held at a relatively new library, the room filled up to capacity
with mostly adults and a few well behaved children who seemed content to
listen to the entire 90-minute concert. This was the most culturally
diverse audience we've probably ever had and it was good to see about a
dozen Goans including an elderly lady and a Tanzanian-Goan visiting from
London.
In addition to blues and jazz, we featured "Malaika" in Kiswahili, "Gracias
a la Vida" in Spanish, the Cuban instrumental "Cumbanchero," and "Hanv
Saiba.Blues." I composed this bluesy version of the original folk song
"Hanv Saiba Poltodi Vetam" for the London-based Goan Musical Society. "Hanv
Saiba.Blues" has been performed twice in London, but this was the first time
we performed it.
My brief introduction included a little historical information about Goa,
the cultural context of Konkani, and the original song's story. For this
tune, we had six musicians: Paul Watson (mandolin), Mark Puryear (acoustic
guitar), Andra Faye Hinkle (violin), Jaamin' Tempo (tambourine), me
(keyboard), and Gil Vaz (bongos) - yes, the same great drummer who performed
with the Jazz Swingers in Dar during the 1950s and 60s. I sang the first
verse to give the audience an idea of the traditional song and the language.
This was the first time I'd performed a song in Konkani and it felt good
to claim this piece of my heritage. Paul and I did a call and response with
ghe ghe ghe saiba..maka naka go. The Goans in the room were tickled and it
was nice to see them look so happy. After this introduction, we paused
while Gil kept the beat going on the bongos and then we went into the bluesy
instrumental. The whole piece sounded wonderful. When we ended it, I asked
the crowd to sing the call and response, the women singing ghe ghe ghe saiba
and the men singing maka naka go. It was quite a scene and the audience had
fun singing in a language that was new to them.
A whole crowd of Americans and friends singing in Konkani in the U.S. How
about that for celebrating World Goa Day? Speaking of which, I did dedicate
"Hanv Saiba.Blues" to the celebration of World Goa Day as London-based
organizer Rine Barreto suggested.
Thanks to the Toronto crew: my ever-ready dad and mom (Jerry and Eva Luis)
who faxed the words to me and translated them with help from Cajetan
Gonsalves and his friend Bernadine Fernandes, and to my cousins Henry and
Edwin Saldahna who I can always count on - they helped me to better
understand the original song.
I am so happy I had an opportunity to produce this concert, to make music
with BluesWorks and friends, to bring joy to our audience and educate them a
little, and honor the many cultures and some of the artists who've inspired
me over the years. Pete Seeger, the much loved American folk singer,
songwriter, political activist, and a believer of building understanding and
community through music, would be happy.
__________________________
Peace,
Judy
www.bluesworksband.biz
------------------------------------------
posted - rene barreto
Read the many positive messages
for GOADAY at www.goaday.com
> messages.
-------------------------------------------
##########################################################################
# Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] #
# PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts #
# More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ #
# Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others #
##########################################################################
