Remembering Anthony Joseph (Oboe) NORONHA

(Class of '33)

There is a compelling urge to apply the accolade 'musical colossus' to an outstanding individual for a lifetime odyssey dedicated to music. Among Goans, Anthony was better known as Oboe Noronha and was widely recognised not only as a performer but also as a composer and conductor.

In his early days, Oboe played the trumpet but when the need arose for an oboe player in the orchestra, he set aside his instrument and worked hard to master the oboe, thus gaining the nickname in the process. His keen interest in choral music led him to join the church choir and he also gained membership of the Goan Folksong Society where he helped to arrange and compose folk songs.

Upon emigrating to Kenya he joined the wind section of the Nairobi Orchestra. He also needed to pursue his love for choral music but was thwarted in his attempts to join the established church choirs in Nairobi, and thus was prompted to form his own choir. He assembled a group of young Goan singers and instrumentalists and through hard work and dedication trained them to a high competition standard. Being ambitious and innovative, and particularly in the type of music his group performed, he ventured into compositions by Monteverdi, Byrd and Palestrina without compromising his brand of music.

For the commemoration of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, he composed a special Mass which was sung in the Holy Family Cathedral, Nairobi. In recognition of 15 years of service as a choirmaster, Oboe was awarded the Pro Pontifice et Ecclesia medal by the Pope.

When the Kenya Broadcasting station was opened, Oboe was invited to produce a programme on Goan music. He duly compiled and arranged a medley of traditional songs and trained the singers and the musicians for a performance which received very high plaudits. One of the compositions included a beautiful setting of a Goan Mando for violin and piano.

While at the Nairobi Conservatoire of Music where he taught the oboe and trumpet he formed and conducted the Nairobi Youth Orchestra and encouraged all age groups to join and sing, and gain skills on their instrument of choice. A number of musicians he trained gained admission to the well-known Nairobi Orchestra.

Oboe came to England in 1966 and joined the North London Symphony Orchestra where he played for 33 years and also officiated as its Treasurer. As the choirmaster of St. Pau;'s Church, Woodgreen for 40 years until his death he trained and has left behind a highly polished team of singers.

During the early days of the annual St. Francis Xavier celebrations organised by The Goan Association (UK) and held at Westminster and St. George's Cathedral, Oboe assembled and directed a large group of singers and instrumentalists from the

Goan community, both for the Mass and for the traditional singsong at the socials that followed the Mass.

In recent times at the invitation of musicologist Dr. Shihan de Silva, Oboe gave a seminar presentation on the traditional Goan folksongs at Kings College, London. He was invited to arrange and record some examples of Goan folk music for the British Library but sadly passed away before he could undertake the project.

By Jovito Dias

(With grateful thanks to Maria, Oboe's jazz pianist daughter and Aires Campos, his long-term friend and fellow musician.)