December 22, 2006
From the editor’s desk :-
Dear Do-Re-Me-Fa browser,
I am sure you are anxiously waiting for my melodious chords of Do-Re-Me-Fa month after month. Undoubtedly, your great support and encouragement keeps me moving in my marathon walk in the vast arena of Konkani Music.
We are all looking forward to celebrate the great feast of Christmas that is close at hand. To enhance the joy of this divine feast I intend to present to you a unique chord as a precious Christmas gift. This chord is really special for me because I have struggled over two years to collect details of this great musician. He is a highly respected musician, a devout person, a down to earth and a totally dedicated personality who spent 60 years of his life as a sacristan in Bishop’s House, Mangalore. This personality whom I am referring to is none other than Mr. Patrick Carlo, popularly known as ‘Carlo Maestry’.
Before presenting to you my Christmas gift, a sweet melodious chord, I would like to wish each and every one of you A Very Merry Christmas. I pray that the feast of Christmas may strike a solemn melody in your heart and that you may experience the joy and peace of our Christ our new-born Saviour. Together with Do-Re-Me-Fa family I wish you a Happy, Prosperous, Bright, Healthy, Peaceful and Melodious New Year – 2007. I will see you soon in the New Year with some most pleasant and electrifying musical chords.
With warm wishes and love,
Gerry D’Mello
“ TO GOD WITH MUSIC “
MR PATRICK CARLO
The legendary sacristan of Bishop's House, Mangalore
A sacristan for 60 years, the octogenarian Mr. Patrick Carlo is a familiar figure in the Bishop’s House, Mangalore. Single, unmarried due to ill-health, he has spent his life singing hymns to God during liturgical services in the Bishop’s House, and teaching music to others in his free time without any financial reward. During his long service as a sacristan, he has seen 5 succeeding Bishops of Mangalore! He has taught music to the now renowned musicians like, Apolinaris D’Souza, Joel Pereira, (late) Bennett Pinto, Alwyn D’Cunha, Vincent Monteiro etc. Mr. Carlo’s life seems to be a melodious hymn to God!
Early life:
On 8th March 1927, Patrick Carlo was born in a humble Catholic family of Agrar Parish of Mangalore Diocese. His parents were Rosario and Esperance Carlo who were agriculturist by family trade. They were a close-knit family with 3 children, 2 boys and a girl, Patrick being one among them.
The boy Patrick had a modest education. He completed his matriculation in the Agrar School. The Carlo family somehow seemed to possess an inborn flair for music. Patrick’s father used to enjoy singing Latin hymns in the church. Patrick too joined the church choir as a boy. In those olden days “Jacob Carlo’s music Band” owned by Patrick Carlo’s uncle used to be very popular in Agrar.
After finishing his studies, Patrick went to Mangalore city in search of a job. Msgr. Mathew Pinto, the Procurator of the Bishop’s House, invited Patrick to join as a sacristan in the Bishop’s House in the year 1946 when His Lordship Victor Fernandes was the Bishop. Since then till date, Patrick has been the sacristan there and has served faithfully as a sacristan under the reign of 5 Bishops.
Life of music at Bishop’s House:
Living single in life like most of the inmates of the Bishop’s House, Patrick Carlo kept music as hi