PORTUGAL Visages du Portugal – Le Chant du Monde – LDX 4337

PORTUGAL
Visages du Portugal – Le Chant du Monde – LDX 4337, recorded by Michel Giacometti (LP)

This excellent panorama of authentic traditional Portuguese village music recorded by the eminent French ethnomusicologist Michel Giacometti presents field recordings collected in the Southern regions of Alentejo and Algarve and the northern regions of Minho and Trás Os Montes. This album, featuring a sonic pallet including male and female vocals, various flutes, bagpipes, drums, tambourines, triangles, offers rare inspired glimpses into a bygone world.

Michel Giacometti (1929–1990), hailing from the French island of Corsica, was instrumental in mapping out and preserving Portugal’s vanishing traditional folk music. After settling in Portugal in 1959, he devoted his life to recording and studying folk traditions across the country. Giacometti also built an impressive collection of Portuguese musical instruments, currently on display at the Museu da Música Portuguesa in Estoril.

Cet excellent panorama de musiques rurales traditionnelles portugaises enregistrées par l'éminent ethnomusicologue français Michel Giacometti (1929-1990) présente des enregistrements réalisés dans les régions méridionales de l'Alentejo et de l'Algarve et dans les régions septentrionales du Minho et du Trás Os Montes. Cette palette sonore, comprenant des voix masculines et féminines, diverses flûtes, des cornemuses, des tambours, des tambourins et des triangles, offre un aperçu rare et inspiré d'un monde révolu.

Michel Giacometti, originaire de la Corse, joua un rôle déterminant dans l’étude et la préservation de la musique folklorique traditionnelle portugaise en voie de disparition. Après s'être installé au Portugal en 1959, il consacra sa vie à l'enregistrement et à l'étude des traditions folkloriques du pays. Giacometti assembla également une impressionnante collection d'instruments de musique portugais, actuellement exposée au Museu da Música Portuguesa à Estoril.

Alentejo

A1 – Tralhoada

Tralhoada refers to a six-oxen drawn cart or plow. This work song is a call-response between two men to encourage the animals.

 

A2 – Ó Baleizão Baleizão

Male vocal group.

 

A3 – Já Lá Gritam No Calvário

A liturgical monodic song recorded in Monsaraz. It is sung during the traditional annual feast of the finding of the Holy Cross on May 3rd. 

A4 – Auto Da Criação Do Mundo

The Creation of the  World, is a traveling puppet show performed by the Talhinhas family wandering in various villages. It includes dances and music – here an instrumental guitar track is followed by a female singer accompanied by a guitar.

 

A5 – Toque Do Peditório
A flute and drum.

 

A6 – O Vos Omnes
The Lamentations of Holy Week are traditionally sung on Good Friday during the procession. Solo female vocalist.

A7 – Pastores Do Verde Prado
Monophonic Christmas carol recorded in Alpalhao (Portalegre). 

A8 – O Meu Menino Jesus
Christmas carol recorded in Campo Major on Christmas Eve, accompanied by a quirky rhythmic-drone like ronca (or zabumba) bass membraphone instrument.

Trás Os Montes

A9 – O Conde Ninho
Song performed during the harvest.

A10 – Murinheira
One of the region’s typical dance accompanied by bagpipes, a tambourine and a triangle.

A11 – Galandum
Dance from the Miranda do Douro region.

A12 – Valdevinos
Song performed during the harvest.

A13 – Vinte-Cinco
A polyrhythmic stick dance. A large drum calls 16 dancers with sticks making their own percussive sounds, a bagpipe, snare drum, bass drum and castanets.

A14 – Carvalhesa
A typical dance from the Vinhais region with a bagpipe and a triangle.

Minho 

B1 – Cantilena De Pedreiro
Worksong.

B2 – Senhora Do Sameiro
Pilgrimage song. Fascinating polyphony with quirky dissonance.

B3 – Solo De Harmónio
An old accordion, castanets, a tambourine and a triangle.

B4 – Aboio
Plowing song to encourage the oxen.

B5 – Rosinha
Worksong. A rare example of polyphony specific to the region of Minho

B6 – Flute solo

Algarve

B7 – Canto De Reis 
Three-female polyphonic vocaI ensemble.

B8 – Leva Leva!
Worksong for fishermen lifting their nets recorded on board the sardine boat Le Nicete, 10 miles off the coast of Portimao.

B9 – As Excelências Da Virgem
Religious song accompanying the recitation of the rosary during Lent which is also sometimes performed for a person’s last rites.

B10 – Baile Mandado
One of the most famous dance tunes in Algarve, performed here by a small gaita flute. 

B11 – Dona Mariana
Famous medieval ballad. 

B12 – Oração Das Almas
Two singers perform this prayer for the souls of the departed around the New Year. 

B13 – Faça Ai Ai Meu Menino
Lullaby recorded in Alvor.

B14 – Salve-Rainha
A canticle to the Virgin sung by Algarve fishermen on tuna boats upon leaving the coast.

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Many thanks to João for sharing this seminal record!

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