Creating his Own Tunes

Pio Esteves

Mario Seby Moraes, popularly known as Seby Moraes in the tiatr music circle, hails from Benaulim, a village that has nurtured several tiatrists and musicians. His father, late Antonio Moraes, used to script ‘zomnivhele khell’ and stage them in neighbouring villages during the festival of Carnival. 

“During that period, ‘zomnivhele khell’ were quite popular during the three-day Carnival festivities and this traditional local art was well accepted by Goans in their respective villages,” states Seby. 

“Initially, when presenting those ‘zomnivhele khell’, ‘dol-kax’ (side drum) was the only instrument used by the musicians. My father later introduced music in the cantos and it continued from there till date,” he informs.

As Antonio Moraes was a noted musician of high repute, Seby had the golden opportunity to learn solfagio from him at the tender age of 12. After mastering musical notations, he picked up the violin, and thereafter, the keyboard.

During the period from 1990 to 2001, when Seby served as a clerk at Aquem Consumer Co-operative Society, he would also go to Varca to learn the keyboard from his tutor, Vinayak. After learning all the techniques, in 1991, Seby joined the band – Professional – and performed at various hotels in South Goa as a keyboardist. In 1996, he was introduced in tiatrs by his father and performed along with senior Moraes for the first time in C D’Silva’s tiatr, ‘Ganjil’.

On May 19, 2001, Seby had the opportunity to play the trumpet for the feast of Our Lady of Fatima at Loliem, Canacona. From then on, it was no turning back for this musician; he forged ahead with countless opportunities and successes every step of the way.     

As a musician, Seby stepped onto the professional stage in Patrick Dourado’s tiatr ‘Tin Fogotteanchem Marann’. Thereafter, offers started pouring in from noted directors like Mariano Fernandes, Joaquim Jack, Mini Mario, John D’Silva, Peter de Macazana, Calado de Verna, Salvador Afonso, Fr Nevil Gracias and C D’Silva.

In 2005, Seby joined the Price Jacob’s troupe for the tiatr ‘Roddonaka’ and continues with the same director till date. With regard to his long innings with Prince Jacob, he says, “Due to my official commitment with the Goa Police band, my director has laid no terms and conditions or any restrictions whatsoever. Instead, there is much flexibility while performing for the troupe.”

Initially, he only played the instrument skilfully by following musical notations, but in 2006, Seby picked up the skills of scripting music as well and proved his his calibre in Sunsil de Benaulim’s ‘zomnivhele khell’. He now assists Prince Jacob by penning and playing music for all his tiatrs.

Besides his mastery in the wind instrument, Seby plays the keyboard and violin with equal ease and perfection and avails of the opportunity to perform for various feasts in villages.

In 1996, when Seby performed as a keyboardist in John D’Silva’s tiatr, ‘Vell’, he had the opportunity to make a Gulf tour and travelled across Dubai, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain. He continued with the Gulf tours along with Prince Jacob’s troupe too.

Seby’s brother, Calito Moraes, is a drummer and initially used to play with his father for several tiatrs. He is presently playing for the band V4U.

When it comes to learning music, Seby is of the strong opinion that solfagio is a must for anyone who wishes to scale great heights as a musician. “When you learn to read and write music, you realise the value of each note. After mastery in solfagio, one should learn to play the violin and thereafter the choice of picking up instruments becomes much easier,” he advises.

He adds that with regard to wind instruments, pressure on the vocal cords and chest is only a myth: “You only need to grasp the unique technique of blowing an instrument. The rest follows easily. But here too, learning the musical notes is a must in order to prosper and flourish.” 

Adding to this, he reveals that his father played with ease and perfection even at the age of 87. He recalls that Chris Perry could play the high octave even at an advanced age.

Seby admits that the demand for wind instruments is growing in the tiatr circle and he advises the youth to take it up as a challenge and allow it to become a passion. “As for the remunerations, as compared to yesteryears, musicians today have nothing to worry about,” he says.

Happily married to Colin and blessed with daughter Shalyn Gail and son Shane Nigel, Seby’s children are following in their father’s footsteps and learning the flute and solfagio respectively.