fado: “CASA DA GUITARRA” PORTO- (PORTUGAL)

In each of my reports, I have always referred to the traditional music of a country, as a mixture of different cultural factors that have to be considered for their understanding and expression.
This report has been made in "CASA DA GUITARRA" of Porto (Portugal).
And the interview was made with Serafim Teixera, a specialist in Portuguese instruments, music and culture.

In this report we will know more about the different instruments to develop the Fado:
-GUITARRA PORTUGUESA
-CAMPANISA DO ALENTEJO
-TOEIRA DE COIMBRA
-VIOLA BRAGUESA
-VIOLA DA CASTELO BRANCO
-VIOLA DE MADEIRA
-AMARENTINA
-VIOLA DE SAN MIGUEL
In the same way that in Spain "flamenco" is accepted as an artistic and cultural value that comes from the south of Spain (and that subsequently develops in different places of Spain and now internationally),  "Fado" is presented as an element of fundamental identity to understand the culture and art of Portugal.

There are two main styles of "fado":
-”Fado from Coimbra"
-“Fado from Lisbon”


Investigating in this music "Fado", we find many similarities with flamenco music. Not only at a musical level, but at a social level.
The origins of this music, like the origins of flamenco, are confusing and diverse. There is no starting point that certifies it. The "Fado" is presented as a music with great external influences and mixed through different cultures to show what is now known as the great music of Portugal

The "Fado" is a music that develops differently depending on which part of Portugal you are.
The same happens with "flamenco". The flamenco that is developed in Madrid is not the Flamenco that is developed  in Andalusia or Barcelona. These are different.

And these differences are what confirm the cultural element that I insist so much.


“To understand the culture of a country is to understand the thought and, therefore, to understand the form of expression and the humor of a region. Of a country”

Note: The episode is in Spanish and portuges with subtitles in English.