‘Count Your Blessings’ at Time of Pandemic! Mlorean D’souza Twin Sisters & Brother Sing for ‘Global Concert of Hope’

‘Count Your Blessings’ at Time of Pandemic! Mangaluru origin D’souza Twin Sisters-Coreen and Maureen D’souza & Brother Adrian D’souza, now settled in Bengaluru, Sing for ‘Global Concert of Hope 2020’, which featured 33 performances by the “Garden City”- Bengaluru artistes raising their voices to dispel the lingering gloom of the pandemic.

Mangaluru: Quoting the lyrics from the original hymn “Count Your Blessings” written by Johnson Oatman Jr. in 1897, from Lumberton, New Jersey-USA (with music composed by Edwin O. Excell) -“When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. Count your blessings, name them one by one; Count your blessings, see what God hath done; Count your blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done………….”

And these are just a few lyrics from the very memorable hymn, with each verse beginning with a challenge and ending with the fact that no matter what happens, if we count our blessings, we’ll be “surprised,” “singing,” “rewarded,” and “comforted.” And while the whole world, including India is under the spell of Covid-19/Coronavirus pandemic, where large number of people are suffering, many dead- this hymn is very befitting during this time of pandemic, when we need the help of others to overcome the wrath of the virus, and thank those Covid Warriors who saved you from death. And as part of ‘Global Concert for Hope 2020’, the D’souza Twin Sisters and their brother had picked the appropriate hymn. Some people look at life with no other purpose than to find out what is missing. This hymn exhorts us to move beyond such a narrow outlook, to rise above the corrosive effects of envy, and to realize that followers of their respective God are heirs to the greatest of all blessings.

In picture- Sitting (Late) Mrs Violet D’souza; Standing L-R : Maureen, Brian and Adrian and Coreen

Yes, Singing along side by side-“The Global Concert of Hope 2020” featured 33 performances by Bengaluru’s artistes raising their voices to dispel the lingering gloom of the pandemic. Watching Andrea Bocelli perform online in an empty Cathedral for Easter 2020 got Bengalorean Biji Koshy thinking about the perseverance of man in the face of calamity. He wondered if he could emulate the inspiring notion, but when he got down to it, it involved more than a single tenor accompanied by a pianist. In an exchange of ideas with Bhaskar Rao, Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru, Koshy who is on the board of directors with the Prestige Group decided to rope in singers and musicians in an attempt to capture the never-say-die attitude of mankind when confronted with a catastrophe or more specifically, COVID-19.

It resulted in the Global Concert of Hope 2020 featuring 33 performances by 191 artistes, taking around 35 days to get the almost two-hour video ready for viewers. Though the virus has created a sense of anxiety and depression in all of mankind, hope still prevails. The Concert of Hope 2020 was an attempt to raise spirits and spread a message of hope, that humanity has united in their fight against the pandemic. The concert spans multiple genres with original compositions and golden oldies sharing space with Indian folk, gospel and popular ballads in English, Hindi, Kannada and Tamil. The video includes words of encouragement by the Commissioner and Irfan Razack, Managing Director of the Prestige group, as well as instrumental interludes on the veena and harmonica. A Kashmiri song by Sufistication and a dance number by the Kiara Dance Academy are surprise additions to the concert.

Joshua Lance who had directed the video says, “People from different parts of the country have made Bengaluru their home and it was important to have a representation of various regional languages in the concert.” It is learnt that the committee for the Global Concert of Hope sent invites to artistes via word of mouth and those who were able to participate in the concert under lockdown conditions, did so. They recorded with limited equipment all the while adhering to distancing norms. It was both challenging and fun, say artists. Bengaluru’s music lovers are bound to recognise some of the most-loved voices and faces of the city in this video which draws to a close with a rendition of the National Anthem and a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. And among these 33 artists, the D’souza twin sisters, Coreen and Maureen, and their brother Adrian rendered their two songs- “”Count Your Blessings” and “Wind Beneath My Wings”.

If you are born into a musical family there is a higher chance you fall in love with music and depending on what the background is, you will learn to sing or an instrument. There is a far greater chance you will become good at your musical skill over people who start to learn music late. It will give you a massive head start and you will be inclined to stick at learning an instrument due to your family wanting to do well in this field too. The cycle continues when you have children and want them to do the same as you. Some musical artists are so incredibly talented they seem to possess something that only comes along once in a lifetime, and can never be replicated. But then, lo and behold, you realise there’s another member of the very same family who’s just as talented – even if it’s in a completely different style of music.

Yep, musical ability is definitely something that can be written into our genetic code, clearly – and here we are looking at a family who’ve shared their musical ability across the generations, and the children have followed in the footsteps of their talented musician mother. For centuries, scientists and the public alike have tried to determine if talent genetically runs in families when it comes to music. There are certainly many cases where that has appeared to be true- and this D’souza family is one of them. Musical talent is a matter of aptitude, not instinct. Some people are born with greater aptitude, and they develop skill on a musical instrument much faster than do others and rise to higher stages of advancement.

A band or musical duo can feel like a family, but sibling bonds are for life. But when it comes to performing together and all the financial entanglements and ego-stroking that it entails, it’s no surprise that family ties can get a bit strained. Whether they supported each other or had epic falling outs, but this D’souza family and sibling have forged music history together, and have remained strong singing and playing even today. Speaking to Team Mangalorean over the phone, the twin sisters Coreen and Maureen, taking turns, said ” We are the children of Wilfred and Mrs Violet D’Souza, originally from Mangaluru. Our Mom was a renowned singer with an exceptional voice . She performed at concerts organized by Mrs. Louella Lobo Prabhu and Mrs.Vimla Lobo and others. She had a special slot set aside for a solo every year, for the open air midnight mass at the St. Aloysius College grounds, for Christmas. She was also featured on ‘Doordarshan’ and ‘Akashvani’, and she passed on her musical genes to us. Our parents encouraged us with our singing”.

“We lived at Balmatta in our ancestral home ‘Cyprian-Villa’ ( near to Bheema Jewellers and SCS Hospital) and were parishioners of Bendore St Sebastian Church. Our brothers Adrian and Brian studied at St. Aloysius school and college, while we both sisters did our schooling and college at St. Agnes Institutions, Bendore, Mnagaluru. While in Mangaluru, Adrian played professionally for various bands. The four of us also sang for concerts, represented our schools/colleges for musical events as also our parish. Growing up in Mangaluru, music was a big part of our lives. We moved out of Mangaluru in the nineties and settled in Bengaluru. In July 2016, we launched our band ‘Infra-Violet’, siblings in harmony, as a professional band, in memory of our Mother Violet who we lost in 2014” added Coreen.

Adding further, Maureen said, “My brother Adrian continued with music as his main profession all along. He Lent his voice to jingles too. He got married three years ago to Veena. My other brother Brian, is a Captain in the Merchant Navy, and now settled in Oman but does shows with us, whenever he comes down to Bengaluru. He is married to Flurelle, and they both sing for concerts and other occasions.My sister Coreen, is into the leather business, where they manufacture and in their factory. She is married to Ammar Fareed, who is her business partner, where their firm does corporate gifting and also have their own brand of my called ‘Gould ‘ by Coreen. Regarding myself, I am a consultant for POSH, and worked for IBM for several years before that. I am married to Desmond”.

Coreen said, “We feel proud to be the children of (Late) Wilfred D’souza , the Son of Cyprian and Lillian D’Souza. Our dad was a builder and assisted his father Cyprian D’Souza who was a very popular man during his days. Our mother Violet D’souza, was daughter of John and Theadora Pais from Mumbai. She worked for some years, and later was actively involved in various community events and into music. Our children have followed in the footsteps of their mothers. My son Abran is a drummer and accompanies our band . My daughter Camaara plays the piano and also lends her voice to our band sometimes. Brian’s daughter Zaara and Zamorah, both sing beautifully and are learning musical instruments. Maureen’s daughter Janet , who is 9 years old has started singing too”.

“Music is like a river, it starts somewhere and reaches somewhere and in the course it will touch the hearts of millions of people. It is like a religion so piously regarded, followed and practiced..”- is a anonymous saying. When I asked Coreen, how their children developed interest in music, she said, “The love for music came to us from our mother, and our children got it from us. Our family has always attracted attention simply because of the large brood that goes everywhere together and perform. My son, Abran, started learning the drums from me at age 10, picked up well and then went for professional training and now is an accomplished drummer, playing for his college band as well as other groups”.

“My daughter Camaara, has been learning to play the piano since few years and has picked up playing popular songs. Zaara, my brother Brian’s older daughter picked up a few chords on the Ukelele when on holiday here in Bangalore, really took after the instrument and has grown into a pretty decent player learning all on her own. Zamohra, the youngest of the two girls of Brian, initially went for violin classes but has now shifted to keyboards and is in the process of learning. Our other two older girls in the family, Annabelle (who taught Zaara her first chords on the Ukelele music instrument) is a good player of the guitar and Ukelele who sings as well; and Sarah also plays both instruments but prefers singing more and is a good artist both on paper and digital. No doubt, for the D’souza family music runs in our blood” added Coreen.

Two Mangaloreans who spoke to Team Mangalorean about the D’souza family, one of them, Fr Denzil Lobo Sj, former Rector of St Aloysius College, Mangaluru said, “The song ‘Count Your Blessings, See What God has Done’- a beautiful song sung by Maureen and Coreen along with their brother Adrian, reminded me of eighties when they used to in St Aloysius College Christmas Choir. They look very much like their mother, Mrs Violet D’souza, who was a great soprano. Very happy to see them sing this song and inspire us to count the blessing we have received”.

Yet another Mangalorean, Mrs Sabrina Britto Hougaard, a Life Skills Therapist said, “My memory is of moon faced Violet entering Milagres Church with her brood, Coreen and Maureen, little Brian and settle in behind the organ at church.Yes and then comes the big man, Adrian. Violet and kids sang in the choir, and my sisters and me wondered how she produces such notes. As a young adult she narrated to us her self trained style. A young damsel who was married and brought to Mangaluru, loved to sing. Choir master of the Bendore church told her that her voice was too soft and that she was required to sing louder. He also advised her to go to the beech and sing out loud. Her determination and the ocean breeze brought out the best of Violet’s singing cords. Over the years I am delighted that the siblings sing together, thereby honouring their mummy and her lessons, both in song and values of life. It’s sweet to see Coreen and Maureen still keep beat of the music on their finger tips. Listening to them sing, brings back years of good old Mangaluru”

In conclusion, in my perspective, the hymn “Count Your Blessings” is a hymn about gratitude—it’s a call to rise above discouragement, doubt, envy, and self-pity to reach a new appreciation for the blessings which the Lord has poured upon each of us. Through the Global Concert For Hope 2020, the artists and people stand together as one world, to thank our health care workers and front line essential community workers. The Covid Warriors, that includes doctors, scientists, lab workers, essential workers and human rights advocates “who are racing to not only create the cure for COVID-19, but also to ensure that it’s available for everyone who needs it, embody the very best of humanity. By caring for the most vulnerable in our communities, often at great personal sacrifice, they are protecting everyone, everywhere. They are at the forefront, weathering this storm. Remember that we are with you.”

And during this time of pandemic, “Count Your Blessings” is a very memorable hymn, with each verse beginning with a challenge and ending with the fact that no matter what happens, if we count our blessings, we’ll be “surprised,” “singing,” “rewarded,” and “comforted.” The chorus also repeats the same phrase twice with a different melody and adds the word “many” before the word “blessings” the second time. The repetition of counting our “many” blessings is a great reminder to “always [return] thanks unto God for whatsoever things you do receive. The spirit of gratitude is always pleasant and satisfying because it carries with it a sense of helpfulness to others; it begets love and friendship, and engenders divine influence. Gratitude is said to be the memory of the heart. And where there is an absence of gratitude, either to God or man, there is the presence of vanity and the spirit of self-sufficiency. Thanks to Coreen, Maureen and Adrian, for showing their gratitude to the health care workers of the pandemic, through their two inspiring and emotional songs. Team Mangalorean on behalf of Mangaloreans, is proud of you! You TRIO Simply Rock!