Music of Goa occupies the pride of place in the cultural milieu of Goa. The state has been credited with producing some of the best musicians and singers of India and even in Bollywood. Kesarbai Kerkar, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle are the famous singers of Goa. In the recent times, Goa has also become home of Trance music.
Traditional Music of Goa
Goa has introduced many traditional musical instruments like dhol, mridanga, tabla, ghumat, kasale, madlem, shehnai, surt, Tasso, Nagado, tambura. These instruments form an important part of traditional songs as well as devotional songs sung in the temples. The Portuguese also brought the piano, the mandolin and the violin to Goa.
The local Konkani Song can be categorized in four sets. The first one depicts the immaculate form in music and rhythm, as in case of the fugdi or the dhalo. The second one combines the western and native music with the Konkani lyrics as in deknnis. The third form of Konkani song that can be traced in Dulpod is a perfect blend of local and western music as well as language. The final form of Konkani music traced in Mando has a deep seated influence of global music and librettos in Konkani.
35 types of Konkani Songs have been classified till date. These include banvarh, deknni, dhalo, dulpod, duvalo, fell song, fughri, kunnbi song, launimm, mando, ovi, palnnam, talghari, tiatr song, zagor song and zoti.
There are other forms of traditional songs of Goa. Banvarh is a form of a sad song sung on the day of cremation by Hindus. Deknni had originated in Bardez, Ilhas and Salcete. Dhalo is sung during wedding occasions. Mando is the most omnipresent kind of Goan folk music.
Dulpod is a dance song that picks up themes from everyday lives. Duvallo is sung during pregnancy. The Kunnbi is a dance song in the fughri style that depicts their life. Launim songs deal with religious and legendary themes. Ovi are a form of wedding music performed among the Hindu community in Goa. Womenfolk sing Ovi songs while applying coconut-pulp milk to the bride and groom. When the Christian missionaries came to Goa for preaching Christianity, they imbibed biblical themes in the Ovi songs to win the hearts the locals. People would often congregate around a fire or a cross and reverently sing Ovi songs composed by the missionaries in Konkani. Another type of song sung in kunnbi folk plays that depict their daily life is the zagor song. They are usually staged at night. Zoti is sung at nuptials.
Western Music of Goa
As a result of 450 years of colonialization by the Portuguese, Goan music has developed to a new form that stands out to be quite distinct from the traditional Indian music. Pop music also enjoys a firm footing in Goa and pop singer Remo Fernandez is one of the most famous musicians in Goa. Western classical and popular music also has a deep influence in Goa. The Goa Symphony Orchestra and Goa Philharmonic Choir were founded by Lourdino Barreto. Presently Goa has also become home for electronic music that originated in the late 1960s, when hippies from the United States, United Kingdom and elsewhere made Goa a tourist destination.
Goa Trance
Goa Trance is a form of electronic music that originated during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Trance enjoyed great success from 1994-1998. Simon Posford, Slinky Wizard, and Total Eclipse are few of the Goan trance artists.
