The 'Poilo Paus' man is back... From Colaba in Mumbai, Oslando has long been a beacon for promoting Goan traditional song and music. He describes himself as a Goan folklorist, singer-guitarist, composer, music arranger and conductor "all rolled into one".
In past decades, Goans would remember the nostalgia and pride with which the Saligaokar created popular songs like 'Poilo Paus' (The First Rains). Probably only when the heart yearns from afar for tiny Goa can such music pour forth. Recently, the multi-faceted artiste came out with a new book, titled 'The Christian Goan Konkani Folk and Art Songs: A New Perspective'. Below are excerpts of an interview with FREDERICK NORONHA: FN: Please tell us about the book? How would you describe it? The book consists of three parts. The first is an essay on what Christian Goan folk-music is all about. What you always wanted to know about the origins of the Dulpod, the Mando and the Dekhni, but didn't know whom to ask. All this is answered in this essay. Part 2 contains the music and lyrics of the most popular traditional folk and art songs, grouped under several "ready to sing" choicest selections of medleys. Part 3 includes the music and lyrics of original compositions of Goan music by me. The price of the book will be Rs. 500. For a big book of over 300 pages and containing over 100 songs, it is reasonably priced. FN: What prompted you to do it? What prompted the writing of this book was my aim to collect the results of my life-long passion to perform and study diverse genres of Goan folk music and convey the knowledge so gained to all music lovers. FN: Whom do you think would find the book most useful? This book will be most useful to all professional musicians as well as all amateur singers who enjoy folk music. The audience I have in mind is not just restricted to Goa and the rest of India but global wherever Goan diaspora is spread. FN: Does it fill an existing gap in the world of Goan music? This is the only book that addresses the problem of all singers of finding music in suitable keys for average range of voices and the big problem of finding "ready to sing" selection of songs that can be sung as a long medley. This book offers the singers several choice selections in an unique presentation never published before. FN: Please tell us a bit about your own earlier work in music. I fondly remember "Poilo Paus"... but there's obviously many gaps in my knowledge... My releases are: Poilo Paus (The First Rains) released by H M V (1971); New Konkani Hits released by H M V (1975); Soul OF Goa released by Oriental Melodies (1978); Goa Meu Amor released by VP Sinari & Co. (1981); Boas Festas (Happy Feast) by VP Sinari & Co. (1984); and Nostalgia by VP Sinari & Co. (1991). In addition, I regularly participated in All India Radio broadcasts notably in All-India and All-Asia Folk Music Radio Festivals. Meanwhile I found time to produce and successfully release two English albums -- Family Fiesta (party songs for family occasions) and Christmas Fever (Christmas carols). FN: We have been missing your work for some years now. Why the long gaps between your creative output? Was there any special reason? The only long gap is between the the last recorded release and now. That is because with the last release I had already completed the full gamut of the best known folk-song tradition of Goa. FN: What are your future plans? I have put my lifetime knowledge and three-and-half years labour of love into this book. My future plans are just to relax and enjoy the fruits of my labour! FN: Who else was involved in this book project, and what was the most difficult part of putting it together? For this project I was ably supported by my two children. The most difficult part was to get music (with piano parts and choral arrangements) computerised for over 100 songs. --- Contacts: Oslando De Souza, Meherzin Bldg. Flat B/24, Wodehouse Road, (Opp.Bank of India), Colaba, Mumbai 400005 India tel No.(022)22183027 Mobile: 9833552330 E-mail: [email protected] First published in the Gomantak Times. -- FN +91-9822122436 P +91-832-2409490 -- This message comes via the Google Groups "Saligao-Net" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/saligao-net?hl=en Please post regularly to keep the e-village active!
