PAI TIATRIST HAD GREAT VISIONS FOR TIATRs SAYS RAFAEL

PANJIM: Dr Rafael Fernandes said Pai Tiatrist -- Joao Agostinho Fernandes, was a visionary and hence saw that Konkani tiatr scripts as well as songs were preserved for posterity and thus, produced the first Konkani gramophone record, the centenary of which is being celebrated this year.

Dr Fernandes was addressing a gathering at TAG’s conference hall, Campal, recently.  According to Dr Fernandes, he feels that, Joao Agostinho Fernandes produced the first Konkani gramophone record in 1908 and not in 1910.   He informed the audience that he found this from the remark that Joao Agostinho had made in his book of one of his tiatrs published in 1911, that some of his songs were recorded by HMV Company in 1908.

However, he stated that more research is needed to verify the same.  The chief guest for the function, the veteran singer of All India Radio, Ansso Rodrigues stated that in the past they recorded songs when enough facilities were not there.  She expressed her satisfaction that their efforts and sacrifices proved useful for the development of Konkani music.  Mr Tomazinho Cardozo, president of TAG, stated that producing a Konkani gramophone record over 100 years back was a milestone in the history of Konkani song and music.

Mr Cardozo highlighted the efforts of late Alfred Rose, C Alvares, Alexinho de Candolim, Chris Perry, Young Menezes and others who produced numerous Konkani gramophone records and took Konkani songs to different parts of the world.  A cultural programme of old Konkani songs on gramophone records was presented by the singers Anthony San, Clarissa, Socorro de Santa Cruz, Sonia Fernandes, Sharon Mazarello, Irene Cardozo and Tomazinho Cardozo.