Maestro Fernando, the 100 year old violinist. By Willy Goes
The contribution to music of this family spans over five generations. The story began in the later half of nineteenth century. It cruised through the twentieth century and right into the twenty first century. The story gets more interesting when one learns that four of the five generations of musicians from this family are living, with the oldest, Maestro Fernando Francisco Simplicio Afonso completing a hundred years on second March 2004. The baton of musical custom is being carried by his son Mansueto Afonso, grandson Shelton Afonso of 'Shelton Goes Solo' one man band fame and Neville Monteiro, his eight year old great grandson who, at present is learning to play the violin, and plays very well for a beginner.
The musical tradition with this family began with an accomplished violinist Inacio Ubaldino S. Ana Afonso. Inacio had his own band which played for weddings and church feasts. This was towards the end of the nineteenth century. Inacio Afonso was a popular musician and was well known all over Salcette in the eighteen ninetees and the first two decades of the nineteen hundred. Maestro Inacio passed on the musical baton to his son Fernando Francisco Simplicio Afonso, who was born on 2nd March 1904 in Betalbatim. Fernando completed his primary education in Betalbatim and proceeded to finish his higher education, that is, Segundo Grau in Portuguese.
Besides being good in studies, he had another calling; a more soul stirring one: and that was of music. Fernando was barely ten years old when he began to learn the basics of music. It was the music school run by the Church in Betalbatim where he got his initial education in music. His father, Inacio Ubaldino being an accomplished musician, wanted his son to carry on the family tradition, so he would further train him in playing the violin at home. It was not long till Fernando had fallen in love with music, and the violin. He simply did not want the violin out of his sight, so he stopped putting it in the violin case. It always lied open on the table so that he could just pick it up and play it any time whenever he felt like playing; sometimes even between bites of his meals so to say. The violin had almost become an annex of his body, as he was seen with his violin very often.
Fernando moved to the neighbouring state of Maharashtra to look for better prospects for his musical proficiency, and soon joined an orchestra in Devlali in Maharashtra. This orchestra which was popular in that region played music for dances. His musical genius was noticed and in 1927 Fernando was selected to play in a string orchestra for the Maharaja of Malarocota in Punjab where his talents were greatly appreciated by the Maharaja. This was also the era of silent movies. Bands or orchestras would play the music while the silent film was being screened for public. Fernando had a stint of two years playing for silent films in Ambala.
In the year 1934 Maestro Fernando decided to return to Goa. On his return he joined as the Choir Master in Rosary Chapel in Caranzalem. His love for music was so great that he worked as a choir master for a pittance; that is Rs. 13/- a month, which, according to him was not even enough to cover the expenses of tea in a month in those days. But the love for music kept him going. With great difficulty he got the salary raised to Rs. 16/-, which did not make much of a difference. It was only after twenty long years that his salary was raised to Rs. 30/- a month, and that too with additional duties of a sacristan of the chapel. After a stint of twenty four years at the Rosary Chapel in Caranzalem, Maestro Fernando moved to St. Cruz, where he served as the choir master for another twenty one years, and then joined the Taliegao parish as the choir master where he worked for another twenty years. Maestro Fernando dedicated sixty five years of his hundred years of existence, and nearly eighty years of his career in music as choir master in three parishes in Goa. Here he also contributed in enriching and nurturing the musical talents of the youth in Goa. During this time he also played for the Goa Symphony Orchestra in various concerts. He was also awarded a cash prize from Maestro Fr. Camilo Xavier for being the oldest living musician.
Maestro Fernando's brother, Antonio Afonso was also a self-taught and an accomplished musician. He played the flute and was remarkably good at it. He was a much sought after musician. He joined a band in Mysore, but fate had something else in store for him. He died under mysterious circumstances at a very young age.
Maestro Fernando's son, Mansueto Afonso learned to play the violin under Maestro Fr. Camilo Xavier at Escola de Musica and he passed his grades at Trinity College, London. For Mansueto, music had to take a back seat as he served the Government of Goa in many important posts. Today as the retired Deputy Collector with a posting in Mapusa, he spends a retired life at his home in Caranzalem. Mansueto's son Shelton, was inspired and encouraged to take up music at a very young age by Maestro Fernando, his grandfather. Shelton's proficiency in music brought him fame as 'Shelton Goes Solo' a popular one man band which performs for musical shows, parties weddings etc. Maestro Fernando always encouraged youngsters to take up music. To carry forward this objective of his grandfather, Shelton has established the 'Maestro Fernando Music Academy' in Caranzalem. The academy teaches Classical, Pop, Guitar, Violin, Keyboards, Drums, Trumpet, and Voice Training. There are beginners, intermediate and advanced courses in Long Term and Short Term modules.
At a hundred years Maestro Fernando spends most of his time lying in bed. Age has caught on, and he is unable to do the best thing he would like to do; play the violin. However, his heart leaps and his eyes light up when his son, Mansueto, or his grandson Shelton talk about music in his presence. He is even happier when his great grandson Neville Monteiro plays the violin for him. His body may be exhausted with age, but the music in him is as resonant as ever, and it does keep him going.
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The article above appeared in Herald dated 2nd March 2004, the day Maestro Fernandes completed a hundred years. Just 6 days, later on 8th March 2004, Maestro Fernandes expired peacefully.
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