Goa's shores are alive with the sound of music

Praveena Sharma

SOUL OF GOA

Goa has a soul, and it's in the music that floats on its shores, through its serenity, haunts its forests, hills and waterfalls, serenades a lover, turns up at weddings and festivals, offers solace in sad moments

Goa | Sound of music |Soul of Goa |Floats around

MELODY MUSING

Goa’s music has been created by stringing together indigenous and Western music.  What’s emerged is Mando, Deknnis and Dulpod. They celebrate both Carnatic music from ancient Goa and Portuguese music.   

Goa | Sound of Music | Mando | Fusion of indigenous and Western

A MUSICAL TRANCE

After the Portuguese rule ended, Goa’s shores were filled with Electric or Goa Trance music brought by the hippies. This sonically distinct music caught on in many Western countries, but mostly remained underground.  

Goa | Sound of Music | Goa Trance |Hippies |Undergound

GOAN MUSIC NOTES

Between 60s and 2000, Goa came to be associated with Goa Trance music, which evolved into Psytrance – said to be more psychedelic or cybernetic. Today, both are played at parties in Goa and around the world.

Goa | Sound of Music | Psytrance | Parties | Psychedelic

BEYOND PARTIES

Beyond parties, other kinds of music are played in Goan homes and at social gatherings.  The enrapturing Fado, sung with guitarra, viola baixo and ghumat, can stir longing and pining with its soulful lyrics.

Goa | Beyond parties | Fado | Longing |Pining

FLY ON SEA,BREEZE

The Mando, with violin and ghumat, plucks at the heartstrings. Tandnni, by the fishermen, evokes sea's freshness and saltiness. At weddings, Goans jive to Western & Konkani music. Then, Suvari, Ovi, Dhallo and Duvallo also fly on Goan breeze.

Goa | Sounds of Music | Tandnni | Dekhnni | | Photo: Rohan Fernandes

ALIVE WITH MUSIC

Annual events like the Monte Music Festival, Serendipity and a host of others make Goa come alive with the sound of music as strains of mandolin, viola, guitarra, ghumat, mridanga, tasso and nagado float in the air.

Goa | Sound of music | Monte Music Festival | Serendipity | Come alive

HEAR THE GOAN SONG

But Goa’s musical chorus can be heard in its every corner, its ‘dark green shadows’; just pause, listen to the lyrical songs and your heart will sing once more.

Goa | Sound of Music | Chorus | Dark green shadows | Listen | Sing again | Photo: Gomantak Times

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