Canada: Konkani Song Book with Notations Set to Release Internationally
Gerry D’Mello, Bendur
Daijiworld Media Network, Canada

Canada, Aug 18: Like any other music, Konkani Music too has its origin in the early history of Konkani Society. Konkani music and language originated on the banks of the Saraswati River. Konkani Society had all the qualities of a river civilization. Music was part of their religious rituals, marriage and childbirth celebrations. Song and music used to accompany the sowing of the seed and harvesting of the crop of farm cultivation, fishing in the waters, on festive occasions. In short, Konkani people were great music lovers, and whatever they did, they did it with music.

Though the river Saraswati is now extinct, the Konkani language and music still stands out distinct. As the Saraswati River started drying up, the Konkani people migrated Southwest in search of greener pastures. They settled down along the regions now called Konkan region, Konkan coast, Goa and other west coast regions of India. But they did not allow their language, music and culture to dry up. In spite of the inroads made into their society by higher civilizations, like Maratha, Portuguese, and English they still have a distinct Konkani music like ‘manddo’, ‘vovyo-verce’, special musical instruments like ‘Gumtam’ (Drums), ‘Pirluk’ (Flute), and special dances like ‘Kharvi’, ‘Siddi’, ‘Kudumbi’  and so on.

In order to popularize our Konkani Music internationally and document our music magic, Francis Rodrigues, a Canadian of Goa origin and an ardent lover of Konkani Music, has ventured into a unique music project by producing a Konkani Music book called: “The Greatest Konkani Song Hits” with lyrics in Roman Script transcribed perfectly note-for-note, playable on any instrument.

For the very first time here is the music of Chris Perry, Frank Fernand, Wilfy Rebimbus, M.Boyer, Alfred Rose, H. Britton, Fadhili Williams, Henry D'Souza, B. Magno, Los Payos, Paulo Borges, Romeo Mendes, Manuel Alphonso, Silviano Barbosa, Reginald Fernandes, etc, - transcribed perfectly note-for-note, playable on any instrument!
 
Songs include: "Cathrina", "Adeus Korchea Vellar","Claudia","Mog Tuzo Kithlo Axelom", "Lisboa", "Kampala", "Adeus" (Bhuerantlo Munis), "Sacrament Zoddlo", "Bandra Festak", "Mollbailo Dou", "Malaika" "Maria Isabel","Encosta Tua Cabecinha", "Cecilia", "Mogacho Divo", "Proud To Be A Goan", "Marialina", "Maria Pitache", "Calangute", "Bebdo", "Sweater Kori", Tambdde Roza", "Hanv Saiba", "Don Kallzam",
"Cadiza-za-za-za", "Garacho Divo", "Ixttaghot","Calangute", etc.

"The Greatest Konkani Song Hits" international songbook being released on World Goa Day (20 Aug. 2009) is already generating rave write-ups from reviewers worldwide. It's easy to see why - so mind-blowing in concept, it literally takes your breath away.
 
Firstly - the original sheet-music, transcribed and notated in painstaking detail - covers popular music of the last fifty years, now made available for the very first time. This alone is worth far more than the price of the book. This is however topped by authentic and complete lyrics of blockbuster Konkani, Portuguese and Swahili songs, painstakingly cross-checked and researched from innumerable sources. And there's more to come
 
Music chords with printed diagrams, decorate the sheet-music, so the songs can be accompanied by harmonic instruments like the piano, accordion, keyboard, guitar, etc. That's not all! Catering to bands and ensembles worldwide, separate music notations in tablature for the guitar are a stunning addition.  But the absolute coup-de-grace is the brilliant concept of the translations. Intricately researched and collated from a  number of sources, the supreme touch has been setting them to verse, which not only increased their charm tenfold, but now enables these great gems to be sung in English too
 
The icing on the cake is the exciting and detailed liner and program notes, which brings the reader the stories and background behind these fabulous songs and their composers. Much of the detail is original, and told with great charm.
 
To top it off, Canadian master-pianist Victor Martins has been filmed performing the songs on a DVD being distributed free as a bonus to all purchasers - worth more than the book itself! This is a book of the most popular music sung or performed in the Konkani world in Goa, Mangalore and worldwide - you'll find all the great Konkani, Mangalorean, Portuguese, Damanese and Swahili hits here - music is universal, shows no difference