A musical tribute to maestro Rev Fr Lourdino Barreto from Goa
Gomantak Times
In order to commemorate 25 years of the passing away of maestro Rev Fr Lourdino Barreto, Sacred Music concert will be held at various venues across the state between March 13, 2022, and March 20, 2022.
About the Sacred Music concert
The concert will be held at Galgibaga (St Anthony Church) on March 13, 2022 where Fr Lourdino was born. After that, it will be held on March 15, 2022 at Santa Monica Convent Church, Old Goa and on March 20, 2022 at Mae de Deus Church, Saligao.
Chancellor of the Archdiocese, Fr Romeo Monteiro said, “The concert will feature a choir and orchestra. It is organized by a group of 40 people which include his students, priests, musicians and other music lovers.”
“The first part will be requiem prayers for his soul. We will start the concert by praying for his soul. Following this, the second part will feature church music composed by Fr Lourdino,” added Fr Monteiro.
Life of Fr Lourdino Barreto
Fr Lourdino Barreto was born in the village of Galgibaga, Goa. He learnt rudiments of music at the Parochial School. He was ordained a priest on April 21, 1963.
Later, the Bishop sent him to study at the Pontifical Institute for Sacred Music of the Vatican where he earned degrees in Pianoforte, Gregorian Chant, and Composition. He returned with a Doctorate in Music and his thesis titled ‘Indian and Ancient European Music’s Aesthetic Forms’.
Fr Lourdino Barreto
Music career in Goa
In 1968, when he returned to Goa, he was appointed, professor of music at the minor seminary of Our Lady, Saligao-Pilerne. “We have kept a concert at Saligao Church as well because he spent some of his years at the seminary introducing young seminarians to music,” said Fr Monteiro
People also believed that under his tutelage the young seminarians’ choir was much sought after.
Chief Minister of Goa, Daman and Diu, Sashikala Kakodkar, in the year 1977, through Mr. Vinayak Khedekar, Secretary of Kala Academy for Goa, Daman and Diu, offered the post of Director of the Academia de Music (now Department of Western Music of the Kala Academy Goa) to Fr Lourdino Barreto and asked the Apostolic Administrator of Goa and Daman to permit him to serve in that post. Permission was readily given by the Bishop and Rev Barreto began his work with the oldest music school in India.
He was also appointed as the professor of music at the Major Seminary of Rachol.
Work and contribution
Fr Lourdino conducted the Goa Symphony Orchestra, which gave several performances of classical works, not only in Goa, but also in Pune and Bombay. He also founded and conducted the Music Lovers’ Goa Philharmonic Choir, which performed in Goa, cities of India and some places in Europe, bringing laurels to the musical culture of Goa.
He was also a prolific writer of music and didn’t miss an opportunity to write simple music for his villagers when on vacation, especially for the village feasts. He ended up writing highly intricate pieces for Pianoforte and Orchestra, Violin and Orchestra, Sitar and Orchestra, Cello and Orchestra, 2 Symphonies, besides many choral pieces with Orchestra and several arrangements/variations of popular Indian and Goan melodies for choir/orchestra.
His ‘Symphony on an Indian Raga’ was played by the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Besides this, he has also produced one of the popular operas in Konkani titled ‘Goycho Saib’ in honour of St. Francis Xavier, in 1984, on the occasion of the exposition.
Fr Lourdino also published booklets of Goan Konkani ‘Mandos’, ‘Dulpods’ and ‘Dekhnis’. He also wrote two text-books meant for musical study in schools. He was also a regular contributor of articles on musicology on newspapers and to the “Boletim” of the Institute Menezes Braganza.
He was also given additional responsibilities as member of the Diocesan Commission of Sacred Music, chairman of Board of Western Music of Goa University and advisor to the Central Government of India for musical formation of military bands across the country.
His breathed his last on January 24, 1997 due to falling ill, with fever.
Fr Lourdino’s creativity had a blend of Goan, Indian and Western music. This helped him make a mark in the international music arena.
Details
March 13 - St. Anthony's Church, Galgibaga, 5pm (open)
March 15 - Santa Monica Convent, Old Goa, 7pm (restricted entry)
March 20 - Mãe de Deus Church, Saligão, 6.15pm (open)
