In the music industry, wind instruments have usually been dominated by males, as it is an instrument that requires a lot of strength. It is therefore heartening to see many young girls and women in Goa expressing interest and showcasing their talents through their performances with various wind instruments.
A wind instrument is one that uses air to produce sounds and notes and is also called an aerophone. The sound that is emitted is created by a stream of air that flows through or around the body of the instrument. Usually, the air comes from the player’s mouth itself. Wind instruments consist of woodwinds or brass instruments. Woodwinds include the flute, clarinet, oboe and bassoon, while brass instruments are trumpets, horns, trombones and tubas. Although the saxophone is considered to be a woodwind, it may also sometimes be made of brass.
The history of the trumpet dates back to the period when people first discovered the resonance sounds produced by blowing into hollow objects like conch shells and animal horns in approximately 1500 BC. Experienced artists started crafting trumpets out of wood, metal, and pottery. The trumpet's original function was as a signaling tool for military, religious, and public gatherings. Due to the trumpet's high and clear tones, ancient players were able to broadcast short melodies, or ‘calls’, over long distances. Since prehistoric times, wind instruments have been a part of music in all cultures. The materials used to make some of the first trumpets were shells, bones, bamboo, cane, and the branches or trunks of trees. Wind instruments may have been initially employed for rituals before being adopted for musical purposes. As forms of music changed, people made changes to the instruments and invented new instruments to be able to make new sounds.
Donna Maria, the first female trumpeter in Goa, says, “My father had bought a trumpet for my brother, but it was his desire for me too to learn the instrument. I was intrigued by the trumpet and my sir, who was also teaching me the violin, Sebastiao Araujo, told me that I would be the first female trumpeter in Goa, if I learnt this instrument, so this pushed me further to take it up. A lot of people told me that trumpets don’t suit girls and that it would make my lungs weak and have me dead at a much earlier age. Although this scared me, my father encouraged me to persevere and he used to feed me nutritious food such as ragi porridge so I could improve my strength. My first performance was at Taj Vivanta in 2004, when I was fifteen years old and had only four months of training. Currently, I play with several bands, especially Francisco Azavedo’s band as well as tiatrs. To young girls learning wind instruments, I would encourage them to work and don’t listen to people’s negative comments. The same people who are criticizing you today will applaud you tomorrow.”
Saxophone player Swizel Costa says, “I got the saxophone as a gift after my class 10, but I was truly inspired to learn it after attending Gary Plumley’s jazz concert. I began with western classical saxophone training and also learnt from educators based in France and Russia. I am currently learning jazz through online classes with a Mexican mentor and also pursuing grade 8 in classical saxophone. I prefer classical and jazz because of their complexity, creativity and harmony. People are usually intrigued to hear that I play jazz saxophone since it is quite a unique field for a girl in Goa. I was the founding member of my band ‘Jazzmataz’ and have played at several major music festivals, such as the Goa Heritage Festival and the International Jazz Festival. The challenges with learning and playing this instrument are finding good teachers and brass repairers in Goa and identifying venues to perform. I am also a music educator, but I have very few students coming to learn the saxophone and an even smaller number of girls.”
Jeslyn Rodrigues, a trumpet player and the granddaughter of late Abdonio Rodrigues, a noted drummer, says, “Music has always been in my family, as my great-grandfather Diego Rodrigues, grandfather and my father Savio Rodrigues, have all been musically inclined and inspired me to pursue music as well. I began learning the trumpet when I was studying in class 7, and my family and friends were very encouraging. Initially, I found it difficult and it took me some time to be able to learn the instrument. In fact, I am still in the process of learning it. There is a lot of scope for girls playing wind instruments in Goa, as we have the options of joining brass bands and tiatrs. Recently, I am happy to see a lot of young girls taking up such instruments.”
Madonna Fernandes, who plays the saxophone, says, “Late Luis Cota, who was teaching me violin, was the one who encouraged me to also learn a wind instrument, as there were very few females playing such instruments in North Goa. I initially tried to learn the trumpet, but I found it too difficult to master, so I switched to the saxophone. Although I found it quite tiring at first, I slowly got used to it and find it relatively easy now. My family has been very encouraging throughout and I have always received positive reactions from people when they find out I play the saxophone. Especially when I perform in the North, several times people have come especially to watch and appreciate me, as seeing a female playing the saxophone is very new and unique for them. I feel there are a lot of opportunities available, so more girls should learn wind instruments and they should not be thought of as instruments only for boys to play. In this way, our culture that is deeply intertwined with these instruments can be kept alive in Goa.”
Megan Furtado, a young girl who has mastered the trumpet, says, “I started learning the trumpet because I wanted to join the brass band in our school. Since my brother also plays the trumpet and my father plays the saxophone for tiatrs, I picked up some basics from them and continued to learn it by myself without going for any classes. After the lockdown, I have been playing for tiatrs and whenever I get the opportunity, I also perform with bands. My family has always motivated and supported me throughout this journey. People have often been surprised to see me play the trumpet, as it has been considered to be too difficult of an instrument for girls. Initially, I struggled a little since it was a new instrument for me, but I picked it up easily enough and can now play the trumpet very smoothly.”