Oswald D’Souza’s 8th Music Album Released at Sandesha
Mangaluru: Oswald DSouza Valencia’s 8th volume of Konkani devotional songs, ‘Gavyam Devak Dhinvasumya’ was released by nonagenarian Fr Walter Albuquerque SJ in the Sandesha Foundation hall in Premnagar Bajjodi here on April 7 evening.
Oswald dedicated the album to Fr Walter – his guide, guru and mentor – and honoured him on behalf of all the choirs of Mangaluru with a garland.
All the artistes, musicians, recording engineer and donors involved in the production of the album were also honoured on this occasion.
Responding to the honour, Fr Walter congratulated Oswald on releasing the music album and thanked him for the rare honour rendered to him.
Mandd Sobhann ‘gurkar’ and former president of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy Eric Ozario congratulated Oswald and said that in spite of his health impediments, he had a never-say-die attitude.
Having known Oswald from his childhood days, Ozario said that it was with this will-power he had succeeded in bringing out the present album. He was for sure inspired by his guru, Fr Walter.
He further wished that the album to be a best-seller, while, at the same time, asserting that it was not going to be Oswald’s last creation.
UAE entrepreneur Joseph Mathias, one of the donors, congratulated Oswald and said with sadness that although many albums were being released these days, very few people gave them the attention they deserved.
Fr Valerian Fernandes, editor of Raknno Konkani weekly, also spoke on the occasion and wished the album all success.
Spot games were held on related subjects. The programme was compered by senior web journalist Richard Lasrado. Oswald thanked everyone who made his dream come true in whatever way possible.
Those present included Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy president Roy Castelino, Gonzaga School principal Grace Noronha, William D’Souza of Globe Travels, Mandd Sobhann president Louis Pinto and many other prominent community members.
Speaking exclusively to Mangalorean.com, Oswald said that the exclusive feature of the album was its variety and its innovative, yet mind-soothing, musical content. Possibly it was for the first time that an album in CD format has been packed with 20 melodious numbers. A few new voices also have been introduced for the first time, he said.
Without meaning to undermine anyone else, he said that the devotional songs often tend to be accompanied by loud music these days.
In this album, he had made an attempt at setting an example to show how, with soft and soothing accompaniment, devotional music could be presented.
If others too followed the same pattern, his effort was justified, he concluded.
