Concert of Classical Music on April 6 in Margao

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2009-03-29
PANAJI- The Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol is an Archdiocesan Seminary of Priestly Formation. However, it has rendered yeoman service to the promotion of music especially Western Classical Music, Gregorian Chant and Goan Religious and Folkloric Music through its famous and century old Santa Cecilia Choir. Besides, it has produced great musicians like Maestro Rev Lourdino Barreto, Maestro Rev Camilo Xavier, Rev Fr Bernardo Cota and many more.
In 2007 and 2008, under the able baton of Rev Fr Romeo Monteiro, the Santa Cecilia Choir together with singers and instrumentalists (mainly amateurs) from all over Goa performed with great success Concerts of Classical Music from the repertoire of Maestro Lourdino Barreto.
Fr Romeo Monteiro is presently the professor of Music at the Rachol Seminary. He was a student of Fr Lourdino Barreto at the Kala Academy and the Seminary. At first, he learnt to play the Trumpet, then shifted to Violin and then the Piano. Without any formal education in music, Fr Romeo mastered the art of reading a musical score, of arranging music for choir and orchestra, of conducting a choir and orchestra. When the Archbishop deputed him to study Canon Law in Rome, he did some short courses in music at the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, Rome.
The Saint Cecilia Choir of the Rachol Seminary is a TTBB Choir made up of the Seminarians of Rachol Seminary. It was founded in 1897 and continues to render immense service to the Church in Goa in the formation and promotion of Christian religious music.
On April 6, 2009, Fr Romeo Monteiro is once again putting up a Concert of Classical Music. The highlight of this Concert will be Symphony 38, ‘Prague’ of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He wrote it in late 1786. It was premiered in Prague on January 19, 1787. The Symphony has the three movements: Adagio—Allegro D major; Andante G major; Finale (Presto) D major. The first movement begins with an Adagio introduction, which gives way to the main portion of the movement, in which six melodies are developed and recapitulated in a very contrapuntal example of sonata-allegro form. The second movement veers off into the minor-key in a movement of contrasting moods with several polyphonic surprises. The third movement is an exuberant piece where the flute plays a prominent role in balancing the main melody in the development section.
The Choral pieces will consist of (i) Inflammatus from Stabat Mater by Gioacchino Rossini (1792 - 1868). Stabat Mater is hymn in honour of Virgin Mary at the foot of the Cross. The “Analecta” text, which Rossini used has 20 verses. He set it to music by suppressing them into 10 verses. Inflammatus is the 18th verse of the text and 6th verse of Rossini’s composition for Aria (Soprano Solo), Coro and Orchestra. (ii) Koxttovta by Lourdino Barreto is a Traditional Goan Motet set to polyphonic choral music accompanied by a string assemble with clarinets. (iii) Salve Regina is a traditional Latin Marian Hymn. L. Barreto arranged the traditional melody for 4 Soloists, Choir and Orchestra. It was premiered at the closing of the Marian Year in 1988 and is noted for its complicated polyphonic and contrapuntal arrangements. (iv) Prelude and Chorus from the operetta Onesimus by Romeo Monteiro with the libretto by Simiao Fernandes.
The Concert will take place on April 6, 2009, Monday at 6.30 pm at Ravindra Bhavan AC Auditorium, Margao. Lovers of Western Classical Music are cordially invited.