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:
- Fado Tradicional: This is fado in its original form, where emotion is expressed through a song without a chorus. Examples include Fado Corrido and Fado Menor.
- Fado-Song: It is characterized by being a musical composition created specifically for a poem and by having a refrain. Songs like “Ai Mouraria” and “Nem às Paredes Confesso” are popular examples of this style.
- In addition to these styles, fado singers often perform Marchas, Folklore and other songs, although these are not considered Fado. “Uma Casa Portuguesa”, “Fadinho Serrano” and “Marcha d’Alfama” are some examples of these 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.
