Oslando DeSouza
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Oslando DeSouza was a Bombay-based musician who worked on Goan traditional and folk music. A singer-guitarist, music arranger, conductor and composer, he is noted for having produced albums of Goan (Konkani) folk and Portuguese music, for perforing on the All India Radio and television, and also having authored a book focussing on The Christian Goan Konkani Folk and Art Songs
Life[edit]
His parents came from the Goan village of Saligão, when this area was part of a Portuguese-ruled territory. Oslando was born in Abadan, in the (Persian Gulf, currently in Iran) in 1930, where his father, Franklin de Souza, was employed in an oil company. His mother Flory nee de Mello also came from the hamlet of Arrarim in south Saligão.
Oslando was brought to Saligão as a year-old infant, and schooled at the Mater Dei English-medium school, now over a century old educational institution, after his mandatory Portuguese schooling in the village aula (or, primary school).
Following the then tradition of Goan Catholic boys ritualistically picking up the violin, Oslando's summer holidays were spent in the village parochial school learning music notations. The school mistir (music teacher) was his first violin tutor.
After his schooling in Goa. Oslando joined St. Xavier's College, Bombay, for a B.A, but opted out to take up a job in a multinational firm. He died in Mumbai on February 21, 2016 aged 85.[1]
Career[edit]
In Bombay, Oslando did not formally study music. His proficiency in sight-reading music notations however drew him to the church and other secular choirs like the Madrigals Choir, then directed by the well-known Victor Paranjoti, a prominent conductor of Western music in the city.
His grounding in the violin attracted him to various classical instrumental orchestras in Bombay. In his younger days, Oslando's favourite musical instrument was the violin till the guitar became the rage in the Beatles Era after the 1960s. He self-learnt the guitar and soon began teaching others. It helped him learn music harmony, which he used to make musical arrangements for four voices and lead his own English choral groups.
His book The Goan Konkani Folk and Art Songs, seen as a significant contribution to understanding Goan music, encapsulates the history of Christian Goan Folk Music and explains the origins of the dulpods and dekhnis and the birth and evolution of the Mando in a way comprehensible to the common man. It includes music and lyrics of Goa's most popular traditional folk and art songs. The 336-page large-sized book contains the lyrics, score and background information of many popular songs from the region.[2]
Fausto V da Costa (also Dcosta), editor of the Konkani monthly Gulab, writes: "Oslando de Souza has made a considerable contribution to Konkani music. He has showcased the traditional folk songs Mando and Dulpod as well as humorous songs which he sang and recorded on cassettes and Compact Discs."[3]
Discography[edit]
1971 -- HMV records and releases 'Poilo Pauss' (The First Rains), for which he was known throughout his career.
1975 -- HMV releases a cassette entitled 'New Konkani Hits', with four of Oslando's new compositions.
1978 -- Oriental Melodies' commissions the recording of traditional art and folk songs of Goa, released in 1979 as the Soul of Goa.
1981 -- V.P.Sinari & Co, Goa commissions the recording of a second cassette of Goan music of Portuguese influenced traditional Goan music. Goa Meu Amor (Goa My Love) was released in 1982.
1984 -- V.P. Sinari & Co Goa commissions recording of Goan music depicting the Goan Church -- Feast Day tradition, Boas Festas (Happy Feast), which was released in 1985. The cassette contains an actual brass band renditioning an Alvorada, played pre-dawn on a village feast day.
1992 -- Nostalgia, commissioned by V.P. Sinari, is released. Includes Konkani folk and Portuguese songs.
On radio, TV[edit]
Oslando has done recordings of Konkani folk songs for All India Radio broadcasts, including as participating entries in the All India Folk Music Radio Festival and in an All Asia Folk Music Radio Festival.
All India Radio featured Oslando in their Akashvani journal Vol XLI No. 23 dated 6th June 1976. Oslando’s group has appeared on Mumbai TV too.
He featured on a special pick-of-the-week presentation done by Doordarshan, on 22 October 1986, showcasing the famous Goan Mando Dance, performed with period costumes as once danced by the Goan landed aristocracy.
Oslando was also a choral singer and as a conductor in Bombay. He led a singing Quartet The Minstrels for over three decades. As an English-language popular singer he released two audio cassettes: Family Fiesta (party songs for family occasions) and Christmas Fever (Christmas carols).
Original composition[edit]
He is known for his 1971 HVM-recorded (No. 7-E-P-E-1504) record Folk-Songs of the Konkan, which included his original composition Poilo Pauss (First Rains), and the piece he arrangement and directed, Xirbi Muji Gai, Lo lolo, lo-re-bab.
This work was created with an orchestral accompaniment featuring Adrian D'Mello, Melbourne Halloween (violins), Anthony Fernandes and Constancio Fernandes; George Athaide (piano), Emiliano D'Cruz & His Gay Cabaleiros supported by Nani Sukhadwalla, Leo Fernandes, Mark Daniels and Michael Dias.[4]
Music online[edit]
His song Combo ani Combi (The Cock and the Hen), in folk style, has its chords given online on ChordU[5] So is the music for Popai Zai (I Want a Papaya)[6]
Poilo Paus (The First Rains)[edit]
His song, much loved in his native village of Saligao, Goa, has been listed Gaana.com among the Hit Music from Goa songs.[7]
References[edit]
- ↑ "Oslando Anthony Xavier de Souza". Geni.com. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
- ↑ Noronha, Frederick. "Recent from Oslando... the man behind Poilo Pauss (First Rains) and other charming Goan music". Goanet-News. Goanet. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
- ↑ Dcosta, Fausto. "From The Cradle of Konkani History -7". Mail Archive. Goanet. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
- ↑ DeSouza, Oslando. The Christian Goan Konkani Folk & Art Songs: A New Perspective. p. 1. Search this book on
- ↑ "Chords for Combo ani Combi (Goan Konkani w/English translatn.) ~ Lourdes Colaco & Oslando". ChordU. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
- ↑ "Chords for Popai Zai ~ Lourdes Colaco & Oslando". ChordU. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
- ↑ "Hit Music from Goa, Released by Saregama. Jan 1976, 11 tracks". Gaana.com. Saregama. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
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