Silviano's symphony

Goans, compelled to dwell far away from their motherland's warm shores, express their love for maimdhes in myriad ways. Goanetter SILVIANO BARBOSA, whose love for Goa and Konkani knowns no bounds, expresses it through profound poetry, set to hypnotic harmony. During his whirlwind Goa tour, the Toronto-based Goan managed to produce a fascinating audio album Classic Goa: Hits of the Millennium.

Silviano roped in melodious vocals of Lorna to lend effect to Sweet Fantasy, Yo Moga Mhojea, Mogacho Divo and Silver Jubilee...One rarely hears of such a lot of Lorna nowadays. Of course, there's Young Chico, Anthony San, Sumeeta and Platilda. Young Chico's Mandovichem Udhok, Roddum Naka, Pavoi Sorgar, Budhichim Utram, and Anthony San's solo Goa Tuka Noman and with Sumeeta Asha ani Gopi, make it a Konkani album worth a buy. Above all, it's the nostalgia which Silviano works up, with lyrics imbued in a typical Goan idiom (despite the fact that he lives in distant Canada). Recorded at Whitney Studio (Goa) and Napoleon Studio (Mumbai), Classic Goa has tuneful music by Josinho.

For a change, the Panjim studios of Door Darshan telecast one of their best Konkani plays, "To Amger Ietolo", which was written and directed by popular Konkani novelist, playwright and musician, Bonaventura D'Pietro, from Anjuna. The play telecast on the eve of Christmas had veteran Jessie and Mathew Araujo in the stellar roles.

Suave Saldanha
Many have heard him play and raise the toast in Goa, Bombay and East Africa, but there's still so much to be said about wellknown music teacher and accomplished pianist ARNOLD JOSEPH SALDANHA. Listed in the 4th Edition of the prestigious "Who's Who in Asia and the Pacific Nations 1999" and a licenciate of the London's Trinity College of Music, Saldanha has held several prestigious postings in the sphere of music. The Bombay Xavierite was the General Manager of Furtados way back in the Sixties. He taught music at the Kenya Consevatoire of Music, where he also held the position of the Dean of Studies till 1975. In East Africa, the affable and soft-spoken maestro was much sought after for raising the toast at important occasions. When shifted to Goa, Saldanha, who hails from the idyllic village of Ucassaim in Bardez and who lives in Mapusa now, was appointed Adviser in the Western Music Section of the Kala Academy of Goa. He still teaches music at his St Britto's Apartments flat in Mapusa and performs at Hotel Cidade de Goa. He is a member of the UNESCO international Music Academy, Goan Cultural Society in Nairobi and Nairobi Toastmaster's Association.

Lorna's back
Goa's topmost Konkani vocalist, who has thrilled the Goan world with mothertongue classics is seen once again on the tiatr stage. Just recently we watched her in a khelltiatr by Mini Mario, belting out her hits in her inimitable style. Of course, the music without Chris Perry or his candid lyrics are missing.

Rosario's rhythm
Back home in Goa too, music making goes on as usual. Having entertained Konkani tiatr audiences with his melliflouos voice, SOCORRO DE ST CRUZ has gone into production of audio albums. In the fifth album--Devak Sodtam--of his popular series, Socorro goes rather religious. Released late last month, it features vocals by Alfred Rose (Kargil), Jr Rod (Visvas), Aniceto (Sorguimchim Daram), Fely, Andrew, Matheew, Josephine and baby Sonia (Dennem) besides Socorro. He has penned the lyrics while Josinho has scored the music.

Ferrao furniture
From fashioning glam clothes for rich folk to fashioning fame for Goan artists and artisans, falls in the wide realm of the talent spectrum of Goan designer Wendell Rodricks. From 16 to 20 December, Wendell put on show an incredible variety of planters chairs, card tables, miniature chairs, hat stands, beds, canapes, love seats, chaise longues, Goan dowry boxes and ancient machilas at Casa Goa in Calangute. The virtual museum of age-old Goan furniture was the work of engineer DANIEL FERRAO, who keeps the embers of crafting the oldstyle Goan furniture glowing, at his Camarcazan studio in Mapusa.