chas wrote: ↑Tue Feb 08, 2022 3:05 pm
GreenWood wrote: ↑Wed Jan 26, 2022 5:32 pm
Algarve is a special place, an unusual and mysterious place also...
Geez, I love Amalia. That song just oozes with the spiritual melancholy you speak of.
Love, longing and despair, the life of a seafaring people... the emptiness of time and the uncertainty of the future on a landscape that accepts all.
Portugal is also well known for its poetry, previously Lisbon was also known as "a jewel of the continent". In the sixteenth century the country lost "the cream of its nobility" as well as its king, in Morocco, the 1755 earthquake then destroyed what Lisbon had then again become, and also set the country back a long way. Before the 15th century seafaring was mostly trade with northern europe, in the 15th century was voyages of discovery, and from the 16th century on much more trade around the world. 20th century saw it return to its own borders. Now it is somewhat abandoned , not concerned about what it wants to be but never losing its identity, a lot of emmigration but few immigrants (they refuse even being sent here) , quiet and contemplative.... somewhere for anyone looking for another world.
Unlike Spain (or UK even) , Brasil actually fully formed part of Portugal for a while, so it brings a different kind of definition to the Atlantic . In Spain you have flamenco which in spite of its popularity and presence is still a kind of "subculture" in the country, it is more direct whereas fado is more sentimental and poetic. Both countries have a separate local folk music also. Unless you obtain rare recordings or visit local, what you hear from both of those is a form that only more recently gained a wider acceptance, and that now sometimes is becoming stylised etc. The same goes for traditionsl Irish music also to some degree I think, where there is a difference between dance music and traditional tunes which converge in some ways and then also get modernised by some ?
This fado is more of inland
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rjuwkxa65Dk
Which I found looking for a fado flute player, and only now discovered the playing of Rao Kyao, he plays on the above and this one
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uzbLqQMmFpk
Which is different, he is said to follow a slightly Moorish or Indian style of playing which are historical influences present in some Portuguese music, and is performing in the Alentejo (southern Portugal) Cultural Centre of Toronto in that last clip ! Simpler and friendlier times ?
I searched Chiff forum for his name and doesn't seem mentioned.
Here is a more recent fado singer..it clips at one point makes her sound like she is shouting but anyway...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yejaUUBqtr0
The steel strung Portuguese guitar is partly derived from the English guitar, it is said seafarers brought it and its influence to Portugal where cittern was also played, and it is characteristic of fado music.
Well, it isn't Irish trad and won't suit everyone, is little known as a form of music (even being in Spain for many years I had not heard of it), but it is very much part of Portugal.
There are trees in that first video
@MrGumby and anyone, where I haven't replied is because I'm still writing or thinking over... it is one of the difficulties on forums for me, because I browse and jot down instant replies at times, and then there are other replies that take ages (like the above was prepared over a week). With having different existing themes in draft, missing comments to me occasionally undoubtedly (and so always a sense that someone might think I rejected their say) , and so on, and preparing new (e.g. where I am with tuning a Rudall and how that is/impressions), it gets a bit chaotic. At least I enjoy writing
. Those are beautiful photos Mr. Gumby.