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We are very sad at Ambrosio De Souzas death. I thought the following
Konkani excerpt, which is taken from Bonaventure DPietros book titled
SONGIT Doulot Goenkaranchi, would be a good tribute to the late
musician. The book was published in 2004; it is written in Bardeshi (from
Bardez) Konkani.
Rough English translation of the excerpt follows.
AMBROSIO De SOUZA
Mandrem, Modhlo Maz vaddeantlo, (Punn sodhea Girvoddea, Bardezant ravta)
1926 vorsa zolmololo Ambrozio, aiz 77 piraier pavla. Toruipunn, tachea alto
saxaphone-ar tachi funk matui halonk na. Ani Bhonvddekaranchea mousomant
(tourism season) Uttor Goeantleam jeam-jeam hottelamni to serenading korun
veta, tedna tachi vazoupachi teknik ani tech porim tacho monvall avaz aikun
videxi bhovddekar ojeap zatat. Ani tachi pirai tankam kollli mhunnttoch,
te anik thoddo vell, tachevoili noddor kaddinastana taka polletoch ravtat.
Muzgaponnachea mollar Ambrozichem jivit mhunnllear ek kannich koxi. Te
kannientlean ami zaitem xikunk pavtanv. To 5 vorsanche piraiecho astana,
tacheach ganvchea Jack nanvachea igorjechea mistiri khala tannem aplea
xikpak survat dili. (Heach ankar, Fr. Moren de Souza, aplea OSTOMTE SONGIT
lekhant, igorjecheam iskolani fokot chedde astale, cheddvam asonaslim mhunn
sangta. Hem ghoddiek Bardezant ani Goeantleam dusream talukeamni
ghoddttalem zait. Punn, Pednnem talukentlea hea Mandrem ganvantle igorjeche
xallent chedde-cheddvam ekthaim xiktalim mhunn Ambroz sangta.) Ani 6
vorsancho astana taka solfam xikunk vinchun kaddlo. Rokddench tachea hatant
rebek dilem. DO-RE-MI
. ani uprant, khas mistirin apleam hatamni boroun
dille exercises to vazounk laglo.
Ani sumarachem vazounk xiklea uprant, 9 vorsancho astana, toch mistir taka
aplea borobor kazarank bhi vazounk vhoronk laglo. Atam, team kazaram vixim
uloitolo zalear, Peddnnem talukentlea lokachim kazaram tim. Kazarank nach
asonaslo. Vor bhitor kaddlo mhunnttoch, laudainh ani uprant zomnir
jevonn. Muzgank kherit jevonn. Band Master adinch sangun dovortalo,
apnnak ani apleam sangateank koslem jevonn zai tem. Muzganchi seva poili
ani bore baxen korpachi tea kallaili chal asli. Vazoup fokot ganvtti
kantaram, tim eka zagear bosun vazounk zai aslim. Dol na, kas na. Kumpas
fokot gumttancher ditale. Uprant, teach mistiriche suchovnnent, tachea
bapain taka ek porno alto sax gheun dilo. Taka tedna 60 rupia poddlele
mhunn Ambroz ugddas korta. Hea saxaphone-achem koslem ek nanv sanglelem
tacho mhaka atam ugddas iena.
To sangta tea pormonnem, tea saxaphone-acho akar khuim sarkho dakhtto aslo.
(Atam ferient bhurgeank khellunk mhunnon viktat, toslo mista). Uprant,
rebekache suvater, saxaphone gheun to vazounk vochunk laglo. Tancheach
ganvantlea Devul vaddeant Hindvancho ek songit-pongodd aslo. Tea
songitachea fuddarean taka pollelo ani aplea borobor vazounk vhorunk laglo.
3 vorsam tannem tea pongddant vazoilem.
Itlea mhunnosor, xezarchea Vaidongor mhunnttat tea ganvantle igorjent,
Anjuncho ek mistir aila, ani to ekdom borem muzg xikoita mhunn konnem tori
taka sanglem. Taka vochun to melllo. Tea mistirin taka tedeach velar
exercises boroun dileo ani teo tonddant gavunk laileo. Ambrozin teo
gaileo, ani (ho bhurgo kitem-i korpi; mhunn chintun mista,) zata titlo
vegim ieo ani tujea xikpak survat kor mhunn tea mistirin taka sanglem. (Hea
mistiriche xikoupache, ani dusre huxarkaiechi barik khobor, Ambroz apleach
tonddant heach ankar dusre kodden sangtolo.) Mandream thaun Vaidongrar
vochunk 2 horam lagtalim. Satolleak 2 pavtti, ieti-veti 4 horanchi vatt
tankun to thuim vetalo.
Uprant tea mistirin Vaidongor soddlem, ani khas aplea ganvant Anjunant,
aplea ghorant songit xikounk survat keli. Ambrozin Anjuna ieuncho poddlo,
Chapora nod utrun, tarint vovddeant bosun Chopddenchean Siole ieunk zai
aslo. He viajik tedna ek poiso poddttalo. Zaite pavtti aplea bapai kodden
tovui poiso diunk na zatoch, apunn tosoch lipun-lipun tarir choddttalom ani
poltoddi-altoddi pavlo mhunnttoch fujiuv kaddttalom mhunn Ambroz
hansun-hansun sangta. Mandrem thaun Anjuna pavunk cholun 3 horam lagtalim.
Toruipunn, ek muzg zaupachi humed aslelea Ambrozin apli khoxi fattim gheunk
na. Hea mistirin ki Ambrozik ek kir kelo. (Horxem-i zalear, tea mistirik
songita khatir bhurgeank toiar korpachem kherituch ek dennem asam mhunnon,
poilinch thaun tachi fank gazleli. Ani hi fank, Vaidongor mistir mhunnon
vechea adim, to Pedneam igorjent mistir also tedna zalli. Thuincheam
lhan-lhan bhurgeank ekthaun tannem ek pongodd toiar kello ani tea pongddak
Bhurgeanchem Bendd, mhunnon akhem Bardez ollkhotalem. Tea 12
songitkaranchea pongddant, Inacinho nanvancho 9 vorsancho bhurgo aslo, to
kas vazoitalo. Kas tachea golleant ghatli mhunnttoch, ti khuim zomnik
tenktali. Dekhun, vazoitana taka eka bankinar vo munddier ubho dovorcho
poddttalo.) Bhurgeanchem Bendd festank zaum kazarank vazounk asa mhunnon
kolllearuch puro aslem, vazoupi bhurgeak polleunk ani tanchem vazoup
aikunk, lok hupotteo ghalun dhanvtalo. Juanv mistir kednach bhaile journals
vazoinaslo. Kiteak to khas composer mhunnche, songit rochpi aslo. Ani
tachim rochpam? Akant!!! Oslea mistiri khala Ambroz vazounk lagtoch, to
mistir tachea khatir kherit solos boroitalo. Ani Ambroz te kainch nhoi
korun vazoun kaddttalo.
Itlea mhunnosor Juanv mistir, Goeam soddun Mumboi gelo. Thuim taka tache
Peddnnekar tachea khala xiklele burge mellle. Tancho adhar gheun tannem
JOHNNY & HIS RHYTHM ROLLERS nanvacho pongodd rochlo. Goenkaranche tiatr ani
dusre okajianv vazounk laglo. Toxem tannem zaiteam adleam tiatristancheam
kantaranchim gramophone rikorddam vazoileant.
Tedna Ambrozio 14 vorsanche piraier pavlolo. Tedna, Johnson Carvalhon taka
aplea pongddant vhelo ani tantunt tannem 15 vorsam vazoilem. Uprant
Mhapxenchea Domnic & His Jolly Boys pongddant bhorti zalo. Ho pongodd
choddd-xe tiatr vazoitalo. Mhunnttoch, tea kallaileam sogleam professional
digdorspeanche tiatr tannem vazoileat. Tantunt 10 vorsam vazoilem. Teach
borobor, Goenche suttke uprant, Akaxvannivoilo akant digdorspi, Anthony De
Souza, hachea borobor to Akaxvannir vazounk laglo. 6 vorsam tannem
Akaxvannir chakri keli. Ani uprant, (sodhea Goeantlo boreantlo trumpeter
vazoupi) mhunnon sogleaninch mandun ghetlelea Agnel Dias-a borobor vazounk
lagtoch, tiatr vazounk, Saudi ani Kuwait bhairaun, Gulfantleam sogleam
desank tannem bhonvddeo marleo. Christopher-Meenachea eka tiatrant vazounk
Londdonakui vochun ailo. Ek mhoino Londdon astana tea tiatrache 4 proieg
kele mhunnon to ugddas korta. Londdonche Goenkar khup mogall ani tiatr
polleunk vosro chikar bhor lok astalo mhunn to sangta. Hache xivai,
Indientleam sogleam xarani tannem bhonvdeo marleat. Ani Purtugezanchea
kallar Pakistanantui vochun aila.
Atam, 77 piraier pavlolo Ambroz khuincheach khas pongddak oso vazoina, punn
turizmachea season-ant doria degeveleam hottelamni, aplea eka sangatea
borobor serenading korunk veta. To sangati taka aplea borobor vhorta ani
haddtta.
Ambrozio, udok pietat toxem solfanchem kagod vazpi. To clarinetui bhes bori
vazoita. Atancheam tornatteank apunn khas ek budh oxi dina, punn konnak
instrument xikpachi khoxi asa zalear, taka apunn vhodde khoxen xikoitam
mhunn to sangta. Instrument mat tea bhurgea kodden tacho, khaxacho asunk
zai.
**********************************
English translation
Ambrosio De Souza was born in Modhlo Maz ward, Mandrem in 1926, but he
settled in Guirim, Bardez. Even though he is old, his ability to blow the
alto saxophone has not diminished. And when tourists come across this
soft-spoken person displaying his instrument blowing technique while
serenading in North Goa beach hotels, they are simply flabbergasted. When
they come to know his age, they cant believe their eyes; they just keep
looking at him playing the instrument.
Ambrosios life in the field of music is like a story there is a lot we
can learn from his life story. When he was five years old, he began his
schooling under the guidance of Jack, mistir (Parochial school teacher),
who also hailed from the same place. (Fr. Moren De Souza, tells us in his
WESTERN MUSIC article that Parochial schools taught only male students
there were no female students. Maybe this system had prevailed in Bardez
and other Talukas, but according to Ambrosio, the Parochial School in Pernem
Taluka had a mixture of boys and girls. At the age of six, Ambrosio was
chosen to learn solfas (music notes). Soon, a rebek (violin) was placed in
his hands. He had no problem with DO-RE-MI
.He then practiced tunes on his
violin specially written for him by his teacher.
At the age of nine, when Ambrosio somewhat learned to play music, his
teacher accepted him in his group and began to take him for wedding
functions, etc. Pernem weddings were different from Bardez weddings in as
much as there was no dancing involved Vor bhitor kaddlo mhunnttoch,
laudainh ani uprant zomnir jevonn (As soon as the bridal party performed
home entrance formalities, a litany was celebrated followed by food, which
was served on the floor). Special food was prepared for musicians. The
band master would provide the hosts with a menu in advance for himself and
his players. The norm then was to serve the musicians first, and serve them
well. The musicians played only local songs and that too seated in one
place. There was no drum or snare drum; the beats were provided by
ghumott. As suggested by his teacher, Ambrosios father bought him an old
alto saxophone. It then cost only Rs.60, recalls Ambrosio. He told me the
name of the saxophone but I cant recall it.
According to Ambrosio, it was a tiny instrument which resembled todays toy
saxophone. Once he got the saxophone, he kept the violin aside and carried
the saxophone to play at occasions. At that time, there was a music group
in Devul ward in Mandrem; its members were all Hindus. When the in-charge
of the group observed Ambrosio play, he immediately accepted him in their
group. He played for them for three years.
In the meantime, Ambrosio learned from someone that a mistir from Anjuna
had joined Vaidongor church and that he was a very good music teacher. He
met with the mistir, who wrote some music notes for him on the spot and
asked him to sing them; he sang them with ease. The mistir was convinced
with the boys mettle. He requested him to join classes as soon as
possible. In those days, it took around two hours to travel on foot from
Mandrem to Vaidongor. Ambrosio attended classes twice a week and walked
around 4 hours distance every time.
That teacher gave up his job in Vaidongor church and started music classes
in his home in Anjuna. Ambrosio had to come to Anjuna by crossing the
Chapora River; he had to get to Siolim via Chopddem. The trip then cost ek
poiso (one paisa). There were times when his father could not afford to
give him the paisa for the journey. What did Ambrosio do? He would
hidingly get on the tar (canoe) and once he reached the shore, he would
run away and disappear, recalls Ambrosio smilingly. In those days, it took
three hours to travel on foot from Mandrem to Anjuna but that did not deter
the enthusiastic Ambrosio from attending music classes and becoming a
musician.
The teacher, who was already famous in training young boys in music, turned
Ambrosio into a kir (parrot). He had earlier earned such fame in Pernem
parish where he had prepared young boys music group known as Bhurgeanchem
Bendd, which was famous all over Bardez. There were altogether 12 players
in the band. Among them there was a nine-year old boy called Inacinho who
played a snare drum. When the drum was hung in his neck, it almost touched
the ground. Therefore, whenever he played the instrument, they would make
him stand on a small bankin (stool). When news reached people that
Bhurgeanchem Bendd would be playing at a feast or wedding, scores of
people would rush to watch young boys play. Joao teacher never borrowed
music; he composed his own, and his compositions were too good. Once
Ambrosio joined famous Joao teacher, he wrote special solos for him and
Ambrosio played them with great ease.
In the meantime, Joao mistir left Goa for Bombay where he met Pernem boys
whom he had taught music. With their help, he formed JOHNNY & HIS RHYTHM
ROLLERS. He played for Goan tiatros and other occasions. He also gave
music to songs on gramophone of many yester year tiatrists.
Ambrosio was 14 years old when he joined Johnson Carvalhos group. He
played for him for 15 years, after which he joined Mapusa Domnics group
Domnic & His Jolly Boys. This group mostly played for tiatros. This
being the case, he played music for all professional directors tiatros of
the time. He played for the group for ten years.
After Goas liberation, around 1965, he joined the Akaxvanni band under the
leadership of famous music director, Anthony de Souza. He worked at the
Akaxvanni for six years. He then joined one of Goas famous trumpeters,
Agnelo Dias, who provided music for tiatros. This gave him an opportunity
to travel to all Gulf States - except Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. He also got
an opportunity to travel to London to play for Christopher-Meenas tiatro.
He has fond memories of Goans living in London who he says are kind-hearted
and always attended the show and filled the hall. Besides, he also visited
many other cities in India. He visited Pakistan during the Portuguese
regime.
At the age of 77 (keep in mind the book was written in 2004), Ambrosio does
not play for any particular group but he and his friend can be seen
serenading in hotels by the seashore during the tourist season. His friend
picks him up every day and reaches him home.
For Ambrosio, reading music is like drinking water. He also plays clarinet
very well. He does not have any specific advice to present generation, but
if anyone is interested in learning an instrument he is willing to teach him
the only requirement is that the student must have his own instrument.
**********************************
With Ambrosios passing away, we have lost yet another jewel from the crown.
On behalf of Goans abroad, I convey our deepest heartfelt condolences to
his family. May Ambrosio's soul rest in peace!
Moi-mogan,
Domnic Fernandes, author of Domnics Goa A nostalgic romp through a
bygone era
Anjuna/Dhahran, KSA
Tel: (966 3) 877-2744; Home: (966 3) 876-2676; Mobile: (966 5) 0281-9101
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