Music of Goa

Goa a part of India since 1961, had been ruled since the 16th century by Portugal, and has thus had historically closer connections with Western classical and popular music than the rest of India. Over the centuries, indigenous Goan music was combined with European music, particularly that of Portugal. Goa has produced some of the finest performers of Hindustani classical music, such as the eminent vocalist Surashri Kesarbai Kerkar (1892-1977).

Lata Mangeshkar, the most famous singer in the history of the Indian film industry, is the daughter of a Goan, Dinanath Ganesh Mangeshkar. In the area of Western music there are several pop stars, among them Remo Fernandes (b. 1953). Goan popular music is generally sung in the Konkani language.

Traditional Goan music includes religious music, theatrical music, art music, dance music and songs used to mark points like marriage. The most widespread kind of folk music in Goa was the mando, a kind of dance music that evolved out of wedding music, specifically the Ovi.

Mando is meant for dancing, and, in contrast to the Ovi, uses a chorus. It probably evolved after the 1830s, when ballroom dance was introduced to the area.

In modern times, Goa has become a home for electronic music, especially a style called Goa trance. This genre began its evolution in the late 1960s, when hippies from the United States, United Kingdom and elsewhere turned Goa into a tourist destination.

When tourism began to die out, a smaller number of devotees stayed in the area, pursuing a specific style of trance music. Early pioneers included Mark Allen, Goa Gil and Fred Disko.