GOAN MUSIC

                                                                 GOAN MUSIC

By Shambhavi Parsekar

Music streams through the blood of every Goan and this seed is planted from a young age. In Goan schools, music is encouraged whether it may be through singing, playing an instrument or creating beats. Goans love for music can be heard both day and night, not only in the houses but at social, cultural and festive occasions as well. The talented Goan musicians dish out popular Indian and western hits and not forgetting the show stopping and foot stomping the Goan Manddos which get Goans of all ages up on the dance floor.

Music of Goa refers to the music from the tiny region of Goa, on the west coast of India, a former Portuguese colony and a centre that has produced a number of prominent musicians and singers for the world of Indian music too (and including for the films of Bollywood). Goans love music. It is an integral part of their lives. Music in Goa covers a broad spectrum, from Portuguese music to Techno to Rave and the now the (in)famous Goa Trance. The local radio station AIR (All India Radio) mostly plays music in Konkani, Hindi and English. Though occasionally, we still get to hear some Portuguese music. The DJ's are awful to say the least, talking far too long between each piece of music. They read out endless lists of requests, which, by their continuous stumbling, is clearly unrehearsed.

Goa has a rich heritage of Konkani liturgical music and hymns. The standard hymnal of the  archdiocese of Goa and Daman is called Gaionancho Jhelo (Garland of hymns) and the diocese also brings out a periodical sheet music publication of Konkani liturgical hymns a called Devacheam Bhurgeanchim Gitam (Songs of God's children). Konkani song may be classified in four groups: one which draws on the more pristine form in music and verse, as in the Fugdi or the Dhalo; the second which blends western and native music but retains Konkani lyrics as in Deknnis; the third which blends native and western music as well as language as in Dulpod; and the fourth which has a marked influence of western music and lyrics in Konkani with borrowed Portuguese words as in Mando.

Goa, a part of India since 1961, had been ruled since the 16th century by Portugal, and has thus had closer connections with Western Classical and popular music than the rest of India. Over the centuries, indigenous Goan music was blended with European music, particularly that of Portugal. In the area of Western music there are several pop stars, one of them is Remo Fernandes. Goan popular music is generally sung in the Konkani language. Another recent contributor to Goan music is the Canadian- Goan band Goa Amigos. Traditional Goan music includes religious music, theatrical music, art music, dance music and songs used to mark special occasions and events like marriage. The land of Goa has produced a number of outstanding performers of Indian Classical Music like renowned singer Surashri Kesarbai Kerkar, legendry Lata Mangeshkar. Jazz Goa is formed by a group of musicians and music lovers to promote jazz in and out of Goa. Jazz currently has a niche audience in Goa and one of Jazz Goa's goals is to broaden the listener base by encouraging general music lovers to experience and enjoy the magic of spontaneously improvised music. Goa has become home of one strand of the Trance music scene. Goa Trance is a form of electronic music and is a style of Trance music. Goa Trance enjoyed the greater part of its success from around 1994 and 1998.Essentially, Trance music was pop culture's answer to the Goa Trance music scene on the beaches of Goa where the traveler's music scene has been famous since the time of the Beatles.

The traditional Goan musical instruments include Dhol, Mridanga, Tabla, Ghumat, Kasale, Madlem, Shehnai, Surt, Tasso, Nagado and Tambura. The Ghumat is an earthen-ware pot-like vessel made by Goan potters with openings on the two opposite sides, one large and the other small in diameter, with the middle portion much bulging outwards. On the larger opening with the edge conveniently moulded for the fitting, a wet skin of a lizard (lacerta ocelata), known in Konkani as sap or gar, is fully stretched to cover the whole surface of the opening. The Ghumat is essential for Hindu festivals, some temple rituals like Suvari vadan, Bhivari and Mando performances. A Madlem is a cylindrical earthen vessel covered at both ends with the skin of a lizard and is mostly played by the Kunbis. The Portuguese brought the Piano, the Mandolin and the Violin to Goa.

Some of the famous Music Bands of Goa are Big City Music Band, Lynx, Lorna's Music, Avalon Music Band, Birland Music Band, Laparanda, Mambo, Tresdeseos, Goaamchem, Rio Music Band.Some of the most famous musicians of Goa are Remo Fernandes, Hema Sardesai, Lorna and many more.

Music occupies the pride of place in the cultural milieu of Goa. Goans are born musicians and music runs deep in their veins. Apart from being a vast repository of folk music forms, Goa is also the cradle of a number of Western music forms.