Alfred J D’Souza

This ruby anniversary is energised by a special launch. D’Souza will unveil his first music book, Because He Became A Child, supported by LM Furtado and Co. and published by Hal Leonard. Later in the week, on December 20, the choir will perform the nine original compositions carried in the book at a concert at The Shrine of Don Bosco’s Madonna, Matunga.

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Recalling memories of writing the works, D’Souza shares, “When we began the choir in 1972, I wanted to perform new music and so, I began writing my own. I was hesitant to tell the choir they were performing an original piece, but they loved it, and so I decided to write and perform two new compositions every year. After keeping them exclusively for The Stop-Gaps for nearly 50 years, I’ve decided to publish them along with the stories from which they were born.” This includes pieces like Oxen melody inspired by a night in his ancestral home in Chennai when he heard a ruckus from the farm next door. “A cow was giving birth and the rest of the animals were by her side comforting her with moos and cries. It got me wondering about how Jesus Christ too was born in a stable surrounded by a few people to witness the miracle.”

The choir performs for the late Pope John Paul II in the Vatican; The choir performs during an earlier edition of a festival concert; A previous Christmas concert

Inspired by folklore, shared experiences and biblical tales, often D’Souza’s compositions would put Christmas into an Indian narrative. “We don’t talk about snow and snowmen in India; we celebrate this season with rangoli decorations and strings of jasmine. Some of these pieces look at Christmas reimagined in India. My next book will have these Indianised compositions,” the conductor reveals.

On December 16 and 17 (festival and book launch), 7 pm; December 20 (concert), 6.30 pm 
At NCPA, Nariman Point; The Shrine of Don Bosco’s Madonna, Matunga. 
Log on to @thestopgaps 
Cost Rs 850 onwards (for the choral festival)