The brass band for the St Francis Xavier Feast in Doha-Qatar.
DOHA
As a youngster, Martin Mascarenhas actively took part in the Ganesh Chathurthi festival celebrations in his Candolim neighbourhood and played the Ghumot, while his neighbours and friends were busy signing the artis and bhajans.
Playing the Ghumot was not the only thing which Martin knew to play, the drums and bongos has been part of his life since then. Playing at Hindu festivals was not the only thing on Martin’s mind, village feasts were the ones he looked forward with anticipation and it was time to take to the drums as and when the opportunity presented itself to him, thanks to his friends and well-wishers who helped in his musical journey.
What started as a childhood passion at age 14 has been his companion ever since. Of the last 36 years he has spent in Qatar, he has latched on every available opportunity to play the drums and the bongos.
One thing which he and other Goans missed in Qatar was that of a brass band playing at the several feasts taking place at the Our Lady of Rosary Church in Doha.
So when Fr Nelson Lobo, the then Goan priest at the church, floated the idea of forming a brass band, Martin along with like-minded Goans worked overtime to make it happen.
“Fr Nelson initiated the idea to have a brass band for the St Francis Xavier Feast to maintain this tradition of Goa. I managed to gather a team of musicians to form the brass band,” said Avon Colaco, who plays the trumpet in the band.
The other members of the brass band were Avon’s better half, Flossie Fernandes, (violin), Morgan Viegas (guitar), Joshua Carlos (saxophone), Joshua Francis Murray (clarinet), John De Sa (crash cymbal), Martin Mascarenhas (bass drum), and Zethan Rodrigues (snare drum).
“We have a nice blend of people of different ages, right from upcoming teens to others who have been playing music as a hobby for the last two to three decades. So, we are happy that the new musicians are keeping the legacy and the baton passed on the music tradition will be kept flying high,” said Avon, who traces his roots to Sanvordem in South Goa.
Morgan, a seasoned musician who performed in Italy where he was based for 15 years, and also in Goa as part of the ‘Alcatraz’ band, was excited and surprised by the good response to the brass band.
“I was very surprised that there was such a lot of interest and an appreciative crowd who were applauding and video filming. It was very nice. I was surprised that there are people who are enthusiastic, although it was on a small scale, but I feel that, on a larger scale, there will be a lot of more enthusiasm coming right through,” said Taleigao-born Morgan, who completed his Structural Fabrication Engineering from Government Polytechnic and went on to complete his shipbuilding studies.
The brass band presented seven songs, ‘San Franciscu Xavier-a’, ‘Great Indeed are your works’, ‘Give me Oil in My lamp’, ‘When the Saints Go Marching’, ‘One Day at a Time’, ‘Because He Lives’ and ‘Showers of Blessing’ immediately after the Feast Mass.
Among them were two school students, Zethan Rodrigues (13) and Joshua Carlos (13).
Zethan, who traces his roots to Benaulim is a Grade 8 student of Orxy International School who started playing tabla at the age of 6 at his earlier school Delhi Public School (DPS) Qatar. Zethan has performed at the DPS Annual Day programme and also some private events, but the Feast Day event was his biggest stage.
“Yes, he was excited to perform at the feast function and happy to receive appreciation and support from the people who attended the function,” said Zethan's father, Dominic.
Joshua Carlos, another youngster, has had an affinity for music since his childhood and started singing in the church for the Saturday catechism at an early age.
Joshua completed his professional training in electronic keyboard level 5 through Trinity College of London and is currently studying in Grade 12 at Gems American Academy Qatar. Joshua plays the keyboard, saxophone, and sings in the school's rock band.
“When approached with the idea of playing for the brass band, Joshua was eager to join, and not only did he enjoy playing but also enjoyed the whole experience and atmosphere. If given the opportunity, he said he would be willing to do it again,” said Joshua’s father, Bryan.
The band is looking forward to performing at more church related events and also at Indian Community and Konkani speaking community functions in the near future.
