Archive for July 15th, 2006
Harmony, hegemony, and hindinization …
Matthew Allen is Associate Professor, Music Department and Coordinator, Asian Studies at Wheaton College Norton, MA 02766 USA. And he plans to visit Goa.
On an unusual mission, one might add.
He writes: “I’m an ethnomusicologist with a background in karnatak (south indian) vocal music for bharata natyam dance, and in a parellel life i’ve
also been a guitarist for many years. After a long time, I’m returning to India this summer to look into a couple of possible research projects. One of them involves Goa… For a decade I’ve taught a course called “the guitar in cross
cultural perspective,” which has slowly and steadily led me towards a book idea, tentatively titled “harmonic encounters: hegemony and indigenization on six strings.” I am researching how the guitar spread out from the Iberian peninsula, how it carried European musical concepts with it (functional harmony especially) on its travels, and at the same time, how it has been modified and adapted by local musicians to fit different music systems and individuals’ creative thinking. I’ve been researching guitar traditions in
Ireland, Hawai’i, Bbrasil, West Aafrica, and while i’ve been very curious about Goa for a long time, have never had the chance to spend time there, except for a brief visit back in 1990….
Sounds interesting! Dr Allen is looking out to meet up with people and institutions, whether guitarists or musicians who play any style of Goan music, or scholars interested in the kind of syncretism that he’s interested in!
Dr Allen also mentioned that he’ll be in Goa from August 5 to 12, 2006.
Mumbai blasts 7/11… Goans among victims
Links to some deaths that happened in Mumbai during the 7/11 blasts. This page is titled “Catholic Casualties in Mumbai Blasts 7/11″.
Among them: Francis Lobo (48), Mahim, Mumbai. Francis who was earlier admitted to Hinduja Hospital is no more. He is survived by his wife Evelyn (Judy) and daughter Jessica. Francis is a native of Morjim in Goa and is the
son of Late Joseph Lobo and Mrs. Concessao Lobo. He is the brother of
Anna Francisca (married to Michael), Anna Maria (married to Rosario),
Casino (married to Carmelil), and Sebastian (married to Emilia). Born
on 3 December 1958, Francis joined the Datamatics Group on 15 October
1979. He was Senior General Manager in Datamatics Staffing Services.
Throughout his career, he has been an outstanding performer and last
year, he walked away with the Group’s Outstanding Award. Francis was
also the highest revenue earner for Datamatics Staffing. His funeral
will take place at 10.00 am on Friday, 14 July 2006, at Our Lady of
Victories Church, Mahim. All his colleagues at Datamatics extend to
the family their deepest condolences and hope that God gives them the
strength and courage to bear this irreparable loss. (Courtesy: Anita
Mascarenhas, Wincilla, Wilma, Mumbai) …
Sandford DeSales (40), Victim of the Mumbai Blasts: Sandford DeSales,
a Goan Catholic born and brought up in Bandra and an employee with the
Bank of India was among the victims of the Tuesday’s explosions. It
was only a week ago that the second class traveller switched to first
class. Quite unusually on this occassion he sat next to the window
instead of at the footboard where he generally stood, said Claudius, a
national hockey referee suggesting that Sandford had no way of jumping
out like some of the survivors. His body, robbed of his gold chain,
wallet and mobile, was found at the KEM Hospital morgue. He is
remembered as a very fine hockey player and football goalkeeper.
Stanford is survived by his wife Janet and daughter Alicia (11). He is
the son of Anthony and Marie DeSales; brother of Francisco,
Claudius/Sharon, Romulos and Father Savio (St. Andrew’s, Bandra);
uncle of Amanda and Shaniya. Funeral details awaited. (Courtesy:
Christabel Mendes).
And here’s the story from the Mid-Day about Sandford DeSales, described as “a formidable midfielder, who often doubled up as an effective striker”. It’s titled Couldn’t dribble death!. It says: “In the throes of sorrow, his brother Claudius pondered on what might have been. ‘Churchgate to Bandra was considered a short journey for Sandford. So, he would always stand at the footboard. But on Tuesday, for some reason, he sat near the window,’ said Claudius, a national hockey referee. “
While there were stories of how Mumbaikars had helped one another, this one had a sad twist to it. Mid-Day noted: “‘“Everything was robbed — gold chain, wallet and even his mobile phone. It couldn’t have been worse,” rued Claudius.”
This story has quotes from India’s juniors’ hockey coach Clarence Lobo (“A very fine hockey player both in the field and the shorter version of the game — rink hockey — he was quite a tough cookie on the field. I remember he used to play for Catholic Gymkhana, and his tall, 6-foot-plus personality could scare even the best of players. But off the field he was one of the quietest people around.”), Tata Sports’ Club’s Enrico Fernandes (“He was one of the better center forwards in the game, comply because he was a very sincere player. He was never flashy and had a very cool approach. In fact he was even better in rink hockey. However, unfortunately due to his abnormal height (six-foot-plus) he had to give up hockey early as he began suffering problems with his back.”) and hockey Olympian Joaquim Carvalho (“Being a Bandra-boy and having played hockey for St Stanislaus, I knew him as a very enthusiastic player. In fact when he applied for a job in Bank of India, he came to me saying the Bank needed a letter of recommendation from an Olympian. I agreed. A few days later,he returned with a big cake to thank me, having got the job. He was a man of great character.”)
