SERENATAS DE AMOR
(SERENADES OF LOVE)

by Dr. Francisco Colaço, M.D., F.I.C.A., USA
dr_colaco@yahoo.com

Serenading conjures up thoughts of young men standing below a window at night, singing or playing for their beloved. But serenatas, as they were conceived in days of yore (when the Portuguese tradition was in vogue) encompassed a whole gamut of experiences: lovely chords from our guitars (on quiet nights of twinkling stars); romantic strains renting the air - a courageous attempt by a few musically-talented chivalrous youngsters to tell every lady in town (not only their sweethearts!) that they were lovable, nay adorable. Serenata was truly an outpouring of the soul, a toast to femininity, an ode to love and a way of life in those sossegado days of my Goan youth, when healthy fun and serious work blended admirably.

Four or five of us gathered at short notice, armed with stringed instruments. There was a “tom-tom” for good measure, and for bass, an improvised wooden box “caixa de ressonância” (the sound box). We were nicknamed “night birds” or “night workers” (not in the pejorative sense, of course!). At 10 p.m. we would gather at one of the cement benches in Panjim by the banks of the quietly-flowing Mandovi where we would quickly practice new hits and brush through old songs. Rua sem Luz (Road without Lights) was a favourite, perhaps because most roads in those days were without lights! Eloy Gomes was our leader, a genial guitarist, a legend in his own lifetime. (He was bent on adding the prefix Doutor to his name but music was his passion). Latin and Portuguese tunes were his forte. Caçula, Amorada, Baião Delicado - he played all these with dexterity. He was the envy of all, even accomplished professionals who came from overseas! Then there was Dr. Rod, the immortal percussionist, the quintessential musician, the artist par excellence. In those days, we mostly “plucked” our guitars; while the thumb etched the bordão, the other fingers, in quick succession, chiseled out the weirdest of rhythms, samba, rumba and bolero (bossa nova made its debut later).

Our battleground was the girls’ hostel - Instituto de Nossa Senhora de Piedade - our first and last destination on weekdays. As the first chords were struck in the dead of the night, the lights came on; the girls flocked to the verandah with shouts of “Encore!” Non-stop lilting music flowed, which came to an end only when a stern Dona Guiomar, the disciplinarian Director, unable to control the girls’ exuberance, would summon the police as a deterrent to our over-enthusiasm. Most of us were then medical students. Great names graced at different times our Tuna Académica - the Flores brothers (the late Dr. Jorge and Victor) and even Noel Flores (now Professor Catedrático of the Music Conservatory in Vienna). I also fondly remember the late Dr. Raul Peres, my brother-in-law, and the unforgettable Pandit (now a urologist in the USA).

On weekends, we had a longer itinerary. Moving around in Dr. Fernando Mascarenhas’ coffin-shaped van, we went all around Panjim and even made forays to Vasco, Margão and Mapusá. Jéjé Velho with his mellifluous vocals was with us and, if luck was good, the golden-voiced Arch. Lúcio Miranda (the best serenata singer of all times) would also join us. Wherever we went, house-doors, fridges, home-bars and kitchens were thrown open and we had fun all night.

It was through constant serenading I must confess, that I ended up conquering my wife. She was beautiful and had many admirers. We were both shy, but it was through music that the right chord was struck. We have now been married for years and there have been good and sad times too. One of my best days, I remember, came when I stood first in MD Medicine in the Bombay University in 1972, and dedicated my triumph to my beloved wife as a reward for the umpteen sacrifices she had made to see me through. There were other glorious days too, like the day when each of our three petals (one lovely boy, Melvin, and two beautiful girls, Elaine and Annabelle) was born. But beyond doubt, the saddest day of all, our own 9/11, came when we tragically lost our loving son in the prime of life.

As I think back, hidden in the secret recesses of my heart and my mind are times I would have liked totally obliterated; luckily, there are also days that bring in happy reminiscences. The days of Serenata - to be precise - figure amongst the most memorable in my life, because they taught me what love is all about. Especially that sublime form of love that finds its expression through the magic of music.
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Dr. Francisco Colaço is a well-respected cardiologist from Margao, currently President of the Indian Medical Association (Goa Chapter). He is also the President of ‘Lok Shakti’, a socio-political outfit which strives for secularism and good governance in Goa, as well as President of ‘Goenkarachem Daiz’, a recently formed Trust meant to preserve and promote Goenkarponn. A social activist and writer, Dr. Colaço loves music - he plays the guitar and enjoys singing.