Heroes:
Male
choir
The musical patrimony
of Baixo Alentejo, justly represented by the male choirs
(sometimes mixed), reserved only to closed circles, sing without any
musical background.
The poliphonic choirs, grave and serious, profoundly introverted are one
of the most sui generis manifestations of our popular song.
Each group or each mode has its "pontos" (prompter) , that is,
selected voices that start by themselves. The "ponto" sings the
initial verse; the higher voice (or requinta) superimposes the harmonic
voice, embelishing the mode (estribilho) and the bass voice complete the
harmonizing.
Portuguese."guitarra" and
"Fado" singer
In Lisbon there is only one single instrument that dominates, the
"Guitarra Portuguesa", which accompanied by Spanish guitar
presently linked to a specific musical form: the "fado" of
Lisbon. Despite its localization within a certain limited area, its recent tradition and
limitations of a musical type, the Portuguese "guitarra" has achieved par
excellence the status of a national instrument with a tendency to spread nation-wide.
The "fado" in Lisbon does not seem to be
associated to the guitar before the mid-XIXth Century, coming from the streets of the old
districts of Alfama and Mouraria, being a spontaneous song of the people, entering also
into the aristocratic and bourgeois homes. Later, it becomes an obligatory number in the revista
(a kind of musical theatre), achieving great success. Today it has lost to a large extent
its spontaneous character and is, above all, explored by specialized restaurants.
The Portuguese guitar and the Spanish guitar
generally accompany the voice in "fado" but can at times be heard in variations
of an instrumental piece.
Pippers
(Bragança). The bagpipes are
the principal instrument in the areas of
Trás-os-Montes and of GalÃcia (Spain) and it serves and expresses all its music
and culture. In the most important festivities it is usually accompanyed by the
"caixa" and the "bombo" and this group is known by the specific
designation of "gaiteiros".
At the Christmas feasts in the region of Vinhais, the "gaiteiros" are
accompanyed by the "mordomo" who fires rifleshots at the end of each mass.In
Vilarinho da Cova da Lua the "gaiteiro" was the shepherd and almost everyday
after his return from the hills, the goats safely locked, he would play the bagpipes by
the village fountain. A woman was sure to appear with a "pandeiro" and there
would be dancing till supper time.
Etc, etc...
www.juliopereira.pt
