|
 There
is a new generation of singers breathing fresh life into the fado,
the 'Portuguese blues'. Cristina Branco (24) is one of them. The
young singer possesses a wealth of knowledge on the historic background
of the fado. Cristina and her regular accompanist Custódio
Castelo (30) are the most innovative artists of this new generation
and they have set the tune for further development of this genre.
The special chemistry between the two has created a 'New Fado Sound',
fresh, with flexible melody lines, and a more important role for
the instrumentalists compared with the traditional fado.
The Portuguese guitar is the key to the origins of the Portuguese
fado. This twelve-string instrument is derived from a lute from
Congo that was taken to the Portuguese colonies in Latin America
by African slaves in the 15th century. After undergoing a number
of changes, the guitar found its way to Portugal. In the colonies
it was used to accompany rhythmic dances, but in Portugal the guitarra
Portuguesa was used to accompany local traditional songs. These
were soon given the name fado.
The texts of the fado (literary: fate) are based on saudade, a Portuguese
word that cannot be translated into any other language. Nostalgia,
desire or a complete feeling of melancholy come closest. The urge
to express this emotion is very highly developed among the Portuguese,
who live by the sea and are used to waving farewell to loved ones.
Hopeless love, pain, sorrow, the life at sea and the longing for
home are the most common themes of the songs. They can be found
in the poems of the 15th century poet Luís Vaz de Camões
but just as well in the lyrics by Jorge Fernando, Maria Manuel Cid
and Manuel D'Andrade, some of the most important contemporary Portuguese
songwriters.
For Cristina Branco the fado is the ideal vehicle for her musicality
and feelings: 'I started singing at a very young age, preferably
jazz. But as Portuguese, the fado is in our blood. As I started
to understand fado poems, they meant a lot more to me than other
songs'.
Cristina and Custódio are more innovative in their approach
than their colleagues. While the basis is still the traditional
fado, they allow outside influences into their music.
Branco: 'Custódio Castelo composes the melodies to my voice.
There is a special interaction between us. We bring a slightly different
'touch' to the genre. In general you can say that our melody lines
are slightly more flexible than in traditional fado'.
Does a fado singer need to have led a harsh and dramatic life? Cristina
answers laughing: 'I am a cheerful person by nature. It is more
a question of empathy. Feeling the pain of the poet is enough to
ensure a fine fado song.'
The time has come for the fado to reclaim it’s rightful position
in Portuguese culture. The beginning of this new era is clearly
marked by Cristina Branco singing the music of Portugal’s great
poet and composer José Afonso.
No fado singer has ever done this before.
Songlisting
1. Intro 0:22
2. Fins do Sol (Custódio Castelo) 1:57
3. Vai o bem fugindo (Luís Vaz de Camões/Custódio Castelo) 3:27
4. Canto e solidão (Maria Manuel Cid/Custódio Castelo) 3:17
5. Quisera lavar o pensamento (Maria Manuel Cid/Custódio Castelo) 2:28
6. Fado louco (Manuel D’Andrade/Custódio Castelo) 2:26
7. Saudades de Júlia Mendes (César Oliveira/Rogério Bracinha)
3:13
8. Que fazes aí Lisboa (Mário Gonçalves/Arlindo de Carvalho)
2:19
9. Maria Lisboa (David Mourão Ferreira/Alain Oulman) 2:42
10. Sinos de Waibel (Custódio Castelo) 2:35
11. Fado das sedes (Maria Duarte/Custódio Castelo) 2:39
12. Nevoeiro (Maria Duarte/Custódio Castelo) 2:18
13. Espelho quebrado (David Mourão Ferreira/Alain Oulman) 3:47
14. O meu cavalo passeia (Maria Manuel Cid/Custódio Castelo) 1:59
15. Verdes são os campos (Luís Vaz de Camões/José
Afonso) 2:46
16. Ausente (Jorge Fernando/Custódio Castelo) 3:39
17. Povo que lavas no rio (Pedro Homem de Mello/Fado Victória) 5:53
About the CD:
Recorded on the 25th, 26th and 27th of April 1997
Engineer Frits van der Heijden
Mixed at Klink Studios
Engineer Michel Schöpping
Photography José Melo
Text Bart Vonk, Frits van der Heijden
Produced by Círculo de Cultura Portuguesa na Holanda
P.O.Box 58266 - 1040 HG Amsterdam - The Netherlands
With special thanks to TAP–Air Portugal-Amsterdam,
Stadsdeel Westerpark -who made this tour possible-
and De Waterlelie Rondvaart.
|
