To love something to the exclusion of everything else can seem rather debilitating to those observing it. To that individual however, it may seem to be the most normal thing to do. The love for music can be all consuming. Music, needless to say, can also be a very demanding mistress. It can be approached without passion or complete focus. Now a trained composer, Goa’s Alberto Barreto actually fell in love with music at a very early age.
This love for music, he says, started in
his childhood. “I used to be part of the choir and I wanted to learn music. I
got the opportunity at the seminary. I studied music, learned to read music and
play the organ. I also learned to play the cello,” he says. He loved to stay in
a musical environment and though his wasn’t from a family of musicians, per
say, his brother was also musically inclined and learned to play the violin.
Barreto’s attention later on was drawn
towards the classical guitar, which he started to learn to play on his own. His
confidence led him to start his own choir and they participated in carol
singing competitions, even winning them. Whilst in college, he led a Mando
group with original compositions in a contest and won. This was while he was in
his first year BA at St Xavier’s. He went on to win several competitions and
lots of prizes. He conducted choirs for weddings and ordination masses for
priests and nuns. He then studied for the Trinity College exams, completing
grade five. He was then absorbed in the Kala Academy as a guitar teacher.
Barreto soon completed the Licentiate in Guitar, which was remarkable because
he was self-taught. For the next five years, he started and directed the Goa
Choral Symphony, which was a huge success. His efforts and the standard he
maintained were highly appreciated and he was also invited to Allahabad, where
they were highly appreciated.
Life is not all smooth sailing. A dramatic change in his
domestic life prompted him to shift out of Goa. He says, “I always wanted to
study abroad. Twice I got a scholarship to study music in Portugal. These were
summer courses. I started working on my music in London at the University of
West London and I completed my Bachelor of Music Honours in Composition. I
continued studying at several other universities and colleges including Royal
College of Music.” He did these courses because he wanted to become a composer
and to expand his knowledge even more. He recently did an orchestral conducting
course at Morley College, London.
Having now fulfilled his dreams and having spent around 14 years
in England, he decided to return to Goa because, as he puts it, he wanted to
give back to place he came from. He started the Alberto Music Academy and
started coaching. Right now, he has several beginners and it has been an
interesting journey.
Asked about how he feels the state of music is in Goa, he smils and says that there are several players of musical instruments that are coming up but otherwise, on the whole, the state of musical education is very low. He wants to introduce musical education in school and he intends to start talking to schools. He intends to offer subjects like Analysis of Music, Composition, Arranging an Orchestration, Theory of Music (in all grades and diplomas), Harmony, Counterpoint and Popular Music. This will be in line with European or English education. These subjects are generally not taught in India. Later on, he intends to have his own symphony orchestra, a youth children’s orchestra and a Big Brass band to boost young musicians. He hopes to bring back attention to the average Goan musician, who at one point in time, was feted for his knowledge of music and his command over his instrument all over the country. This academy will train the young and ensure they will have the expertise and importantly the knowledge of music, which Barreto feels is missing. Time will tell if his wish comes true.