THE RENOWNED GOAN MUSICIAN PETER RODRIGUES FROM CANDOLIM.
Seen above is Peter Rodrigues with his Saxophone
The village Candolim was known to produce some of the finest musicians in Goa, they learnt this skill of playing music from the Parochial (Church) school starting from the Church Choir Master Agostinho D’Souza who was the Professor of my father, Alexinho de Candolim, Dioginho Vaz, Gonsales Bostiao and many more of that era. In one of his songs in praise of his Professor Agostinho D’Souza, his renowned student Alexinho de Candolim sings thus:
Konnuch volkonastana aschenant bhavani hangasor
Agostinho de Souza Candolim igorjecho Professor
Mistirpon tanne choloilem vorsam Cheallis bhor
Bharkaen tachem jivit ami niallun pollet tor
Bharikuch aslo khoro pun xinkop tachem chodd vhodd
Tachea hathan kitle xinkon zalet Band Mastor
Kantorist sadoitat Stage ani Igorzanche Kor
Derrepent melo babddo Saiba Sorg taka favo khor.
That was the great eulogy the great Tiatrist Alexinho de Candolim made of his Teacher. The words are so measured and so appropriate that I, doubt any other Tiatrist could compose such a beautiful song. That was the greatness of Alexinho de Candolim on whom the great educationist of Goa and also the great Principal of St. Joseph’s High School Arpora, Fr. Philiph Neri Mendonca passed a remark thus: “Oh my goodness ! What Alexinho de Candolim !! If this man had a little more educational background he would be a genius”.
Peter is seen above playing his Saxophone
Overwhelming majority of Candolim Musicians were the products of local Parochial School which was closed somewhere in mid Sixties and thus came the end of producing Solfist Musicians from Candolim Church School and thus losing the earlier beauty and grandeur the Church Choir had under the Choir Masters. Now there is no Church Mestiri to teach how to sing in the Church nor to teach Solfas thus among Candoikars producing NO SOLFIST MUSICIANS. Some of the beautiful musical works of the Church recorded with Solfas are no more in existence now for our current and future generations. This is how the beautiful Motets are gone into extinction from our Churches. I hope our Church authority at Altinho, Panjim will do something to revive the old system in our local Churches. This should be done with the employment of a Mistiri for every Church in Goa and with the help of his knowledge of Solfas he will surely give a bright look for our Church Choir. Money should not be a problem, every Sunday every village Church is collecting so many thousands of rupees from where a portion can be allocated as salary for the Mistiri.
The last topmost Solfist Musician Trumpeter of Candolim was the late Andre Cursino a powerful member of the “Merry Makers” Band while the late Maestro Isidore the father of Tiatrist Young Menezes rattled Goa with his top efficiency in playing music on Solfas. His favourite instrument was Doublebass.
Peter is seen at extreme left
However, in Candolim now the lone top solfist musician who carry forward the tradition of Candoicars as the best musician is none other than Peter Rodrigues from Pintos Vaddo, who by being a member of Chris Perry’s troupe playing the important instrument Saxophone for the Musical Show (Tiatro) “Nouro Mhozo Devchar” written, composed and directed by Chris Perry, created a strong impact of his musical prowess when Chris Perry with Lorna and others staged the said Tiatro in Bombay and in Goa in April, 1971. Our Candoicar musician was the strong member of Chris’ troupe playing with Chris the most important instrument Saxophone. However, much before this Tiatro, Peter Rodrigues was already a member of Chris Perry’s Band playing at various occasions at various places in Bombay.
Peter Rodrigues learnt to play music at an early age under the guidance of his musician father who was during those days one of the best musicians in Bombay. Peter Rodrigues attained the perfection in playing Violin at the age of 10 in Bombay where he developed his musical skill under his father who took lot of care to train his son appropriately well. Some of the members in the family of Peter Rodrigues were very good musicians including his father the late Joaquim Luis Rodrigues who got great distinction of playing in the Orchestra of Zubin Mehta and in Bollywood Films. Being a humble man, his father never aspired for self glory and pompousness of his profession. Being a strict disciplinarian, his father never touched the Drinks but unlike many in the profession remained Teetotaler throughout his life.
Though music was his first love yet Peter took it as a hobby and never survived on music to earn his daily bread. This daily bread he earned thru his permanent job elsewhere as a professional in Bombay. After a few years in Bombay he was recruited to Bahrain and returned to Bombay in 1975 and till 1976 continued playing with various groups in Bombay. Later he left Bombay on 20th Nov. 1976 with Chris’ Band for Jumairah Hotel, Dubai. He came to Goa for good in 1977. In Goa he never remained idle but joined groups that played for Hotels – Resorts – 5 Star Hotels including the Taj at Sinquerim and earned laurels for him. In 2015 he started training the youngsters in music with Solfas and thus he trained so many students who with their knowledge of playing music with Solfas are happy. This knowledge of music with Solfas is like the knowledge of international language which can be used anywhere in the world. Where Esperanto failed – the language of Solfas succeeded.
Having considerable knowledge of three instruments, namely Saxophone – Violin – Organ he still maintains the mastery over Saxophone which according to him fetched him monetarily as well as social gains.
When questioned him, why we Goans now mainly the Catholics and especially the Candoicars inspite of having a great tradition of music are become orphans and so poor in this field, replied he “because our current generation is not ready to take pains to do the hard work and learn Solfas. The present music trend is not Solfas but sequencing (including miming and noise). Music without Solfas is like a man without eyes”.
A.Veronica Fernandes.