Two upcoming Lenten concerts in the state aim to help the faithful in prayer during this sombre period
as they spiritually prepare for the Easter celebration
CHRISTINE MACHADO
NT BUZZ
The season of Lent which began on Ash Wednesday (February 18 this year) is a time for meditation and prayer for Catholics as they contemplate on the great suffering of Jesus Christ and prepare for His Resurrection. It is the time for confessions, retreats, alms giving, and sacred music concerts. Goa too has been witnessing quite a few retreats and concerts.
In classic form
The March 15 Lenten concert will have a young new string quartet live in action. Marking their debut in November last year, the Aria String Quartet comprises of four young ladies – Natsalene Estrocio (first violin) On the second violin is Sarah D’Souza (second violin), Nicole Noronha (viola) and Joann Fernandes (cello). “The idea of coming together initially was to create an opportunity to learn the workings of playing as a group. I felt that would be really enriching as a musician,” says D’Souza. “Besides, there are not many quartets in Goa and I thought it would be a disservice to the music community if we didn’t have one.”
Through Aria, the musicians hope to showcase the diversity of classical quartet works and arrangements. “There’s a world of music written for quartets and we hope to get such opportunities to dive into it,” says D’Souza. “However, in comparison to other genres, there is still a lacuna in the number of serious classical musicians. Nonetheless, it is heartening to see the growing interest generated through mainstream media.”
Rhythm divine
“Lent is a time for prayer, reflection, and spiritual preparation and sacred music has a powerful way of creating an atmosphere that encourages contemplation,” shares curatorial associate, Museum of Christian Art, Old Goa Benjamin Monserrate. The museum will be organising an upcoming Lenten music concert on March 15, 6. 30 p.m. at the Church of Santa Monica, Old Goa. this year, marks the third edition of this concert.
The concert will feature sacred music by three choral groups – Mae de Deus Church Choir, Saligao; The Youth Saviourites; and the Divine Harmony Choral Ensemble with The Aria String Quartet. “Every year, we make a conscious effort to reach out to different choir groups from across the state, providing a platform for new voices and ensembles and bring fresh interpretations of sacred repertoire to the audience,” says Monserrate.
Sharing his thoughts, Jason Quadros, the choir leader of Divine Harmony Choral Ensemble says the hymns will help the faithful reflect upon the whole passion of Jesus. “The hymns help us break away from our old habits, and change our lives for the better,” he says.
Sarah D’Souza of the Aria String Quartet, a recently formed quartet meanwhile states, “Music enables us to partake more meaningfully in this holy period.”
In particular, the concert will lay emphasis on the motets, Goa’s unique sacred music composed especially for this season. According to Quadros, these were Lenten hymns composed during the Portuguese rule in Goa. “Unfortunately for many of these motets, the composers are unknown today since they didn’t write their names,” he says. The choir will be performing a motet which has been arranged by Fr. Romeo Monteiro.
“Polyphony, or the singing of multiple melodic lines together to create harmony, developed in Europe around the ninth century. This sacred music style reached Goa through the missionaries and church musicians of the time,” shares Monserrate, adding that in Goa, motets evolved into a distinct local tradition. “Goan motets are generally simpler but deeply moving choral works sung particularly during devotions such as the Santos Passos, which reflect on the suffering and death of Christ.” Today, awareness of this tradition is present but not as widespread before, he states. “By presenting motets in a concert like this, we hope to reintroduce audiences to this unique aspect of Goan sacred music, as it is a living cultural tradition that connects faith, history, and community.”
Tuning in to Jesus
On March 21, the Don Bosco Past Pupils Panjim Unit supported by Frank Furtado Productions will present ‘Follow Me’, a Lenten music evening on the Don Bosco Panaji Grounds. The event will begin with rosary at 5.30 p.m., Mass at 6 p.m., followed by Lenten reflection by Fr. Avon Vaz sfx, Society of Pilar which will be interspersed with music.
President, Don Bosco Past Pupils Panjim Unit Albert De Sa says that in the past, the group has organised retreats during the Lenten season. “However, in the last few years, we have noticed that the crowd has been thinning with hardly any youth,” he says.
To change that, the group began thinking of ways to draw them in prayer. “Our aim was not to have just a retreat where you go pray and do your confession. We wanted people to understand what is the Lenten period. And a lot can be done through music,” says De Sa.
With this in mind, they have gotten on board noted names like Johnny B Gud with Reza, Bushka, and Mark Revlon with Black in White. In fact, Revlon in particular is known to draw Goan crowds today with his magnetic voice. “We have heard him singing a lot of gospel songs and we know that he can get the crowd. He especially resonates with the youth,” says De Sa, adding that they were fortunate to tie up with Frank Furtado for their first gospel concert. Speaking about their performance, Noel Rosh of Black in White states that the group recently came on the gospel music scene when they released a Konkani hymn cover with Revlon. “For the upcoming concert we will be doing our own versions of some English and Konkani hymns,” he says, adding that given that this is their first gospel music concert they hope that they can do justice to it. “With gospel music, you really have to feel all of it, the words, and the mood,” he says.
