The Essentials of Fado in 5 Minutes
Fado, a song deeply rooted in Portuguese culture, is a journey through the soul of Portugal. In this brief guide, we’ll explore the essentials of this exciting musical genre. Lisbon Fado and Coimbra Fado: Two Distinct Traditions Fado has two distinct traditions: Lisbon Fado and Coimbra Fado. Lisbon Fado, recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, has its origins in bohemian Lisbon, while Coimbra Fado, although not recognized by UNESCO, is a unique expression of the academic soul of this historic city. Fado styles (from Lisbon) Within Lisbon Fado, we find two predominant styles: Coimbra’s Fado: A University Tradition Fado de Coimbra is a musical expression linked to the students of this historic city. Inspired by the academic tradition, it reflects the youth, poetry and nostalgia of the students. The Instruments of Fado Fado’s traditional instruments include the fado singer’s voice, the Portuguese guitar and the viola. While the fado singer sings the poems with emotional intensity, the guitarist creates initial melodies and musical textures, while the violist sets the rhythm and defines the harmonic path. The bass is also sometimes present, sharing responsibilities with the guitarist. Courtesy at a Fado Show Silence: Fado deserves to be heard in silence, as the artists are dedicated to communicating with the audience in real time. Conversations during the show can be distracting and detract from the quality of the performance. Cell phone use: Turn off or silence your phone to avoid interruptions. Photographs and videos are generally accepted, but make sure you don’t disturb other spectators. Clapping: Clapping after each song is appreciated by the artists as a form of positive feedback, but avoid clapping during the songs as it can disrupt the musicians. Singing with the Fado singer: Unless invited, avoid singing along with the fado singer, especially in Lisbon Fado, where the interaction between the fado singer and the audience is more subtle.
10 essential Fados to discover
Fado Minor It is not known who created it, but it is considered the king of Fados. It has a simple harmonization (tonic and dominant), in a minor key, and favours the fado singer’s expression and improvisation. Fado Corrido Fado Corrido, together with Fado Menor, is one of the most important Fados and its authorship is also unknown. Fado Cravo Created by Alfredo Marceneiro, one of the greatest promoters of Fado in the 19th century. XX, is one of the most beloved themes in the Fado community Fado Alberto A composition by Miguel Ramos, where we can hear an innovative harmonic path for the time. Fado Menor do Porto Created by José Joaquim Cavalheiro Jr., in this Fado we can hear the influence of Andalusian culture. Fado Vianinha It is one of the classics of Traditional Fado and was composed by Francisco Viana. Fado Daisies Composed by Miguel Ramos, it’s a good example of the “castiço” style. Fado Vitória Composed by Joaquim Campos, Fado Vitória is a classic interpreted here by Fernando Maurício, considered the king of Fado. Fado Bailado A creation by Alfredo Marceneiro, immortalized by the voice of Amália Rodrigues, the queen of Fado. Fado Bizarro One of my favorites, created by Acácio Gomes dos Santos, in an interpretation by Carminho, one of the best contemporary fado singers.
