2. Comenius Project “Windows on Europe”
The popular Portuguese instrumental is
characterized by a multitude of forms,
mostly imported from other countries.
There’s a great diversity, also closely
related with the duality of the landscape:
Eastern Trás-os Montes and Beira on
the one side, and on the other side the
Alentejo plains, where the oldest
rudimentary instruments persist .
3. Comenius Project “Windows on Europe”
The western fringe of the country and
the Algarve are characterized by a
more expansive spirit. Here
dominate string instruments like the
“viola”, the “cavaquinho”(ukelele),
the fiddle, the Portuguese guitar, the
“violão”and 'tuna instruments.
4. Comenius Project “Windows on Europe”
◊Minho is rich in traditional
dances, including most
importantly the Vira, the Green
Cane and Malhão. What stands
out most of them, apart from the
dance itself, is the clothing of
women, with their varied colours
and accessories.
cavaquinho (ukelele)
5. Comenius Project “Windows on Europe”
◊ The “Pauliteiros” are typical of the Trás os Montes region. Their
dance probably originated from the Pyrrhic dance of the Greeks
but it has also got traces of southern France folk dances and of
the dance of the swords of the Swiss in the Middle Ages. The
Romans were responsible for the spread of the Pyrrhic dance to
this region.
◊ The dance is performed by eight men.
◊ They raise two wooden sticks and make
highly coordinated movements.
◊ They dance by the sound of the bagpipe,
drum box, sometimes combined with
castanets.
bagpipe drum box castanets
6. Comenius Project “Windows on Europe”
◊ In Beira Baixa the “adufe” is the
most important instrument. It is
usually played by women and
accompanies various types of
songs, and secular festivities,
dances and work songs. It is also
used in religious ceremonies and
other important occasions.
◊ This instrument was introduced by
the Arabs in the Iberian Peninsula
between the eighth and twelfth
adufe
centuries. Today it is mostly
concentrated in central-eastern
Portugal (district of Castelo
7. Comenius Project “Windows on Europe”
◊ Fandango is a traditional dance
of Ribatejo. Two dancers dance
looking for the attention of the
prettiest girl. The musical
instruments used for this type of
dance are the accordion, the
“bilha com abano" and “cana
aberta" (which sounds like
castanets).
Bilha com abano
8. Comenius Project “Windows on Europe”
◊ The Alentejo chant is a polyphony
without instruments, which
appeared in the Renaissance
period in the sixteenth century.
◊ This form of singing reflects the
bleakness and loneliness of the
Alentejo plains, and the joy,
sadness and longing of the people
of Alentejo.
◊ By tradition, the Alentejo chant is
sung by choirs consisting solely of
men.
9. Comenius Project “Windows on Europe”
◊ Corridinho is typical from the
Algarve. It is danced in pairs (a
man and a woman);
◊ The girls are inside and the boys
are out of the round. They rotate
in the same place, moving their
feet quickly.
◊ This type of dance is also
characteristic of Estremadura.
accordion
10. Comenius Project “Windows on Europe”
◊ The “Bailinho da
Madeira” is the most
popular musical form in
the Madeira archipelago.
It is a joyful dance and is
danced by couples (a
man and a woman),
wearing a very colourful
costume.
◊ The most typical
instrument is the
“brinquinho”.
“brinquinho”
11. Comenius Project “Windows on Europe”
◊ The Chamarrita is one of the oldest types
of ball of the Azores. It still meets the
population spontaneously and on
occasional festivals.
◊ Everybody dances it following the
instructions given by the “mandador”. In
each island, and even from parish to
parish, coexist different versions of the
choreography.
◊ With immigration to Latin America,
Chamarrita spread to countries like
Uruguay and Argentina, having particular
importance in southern Brazil.
earth guitar
