Anthology of Portuguese Music, Vol. 1: Tras-Os-Montes and Vol. 2: Algarve

Trás-os-Montes, a province in northeastern Portugal, has remained relatively isolated from the rest of Europe, allowing for what American musicologist Kurt Schindler called "the most grandiose survival of medieval music," including the preservation of the gaita de foles (Portuguese bagpipe). The province has also been a refuge for Portuguese Jews and their folk traditions for hundreds of years. Vol. 1 of the Anthology of Portuguese Music continues the quest for the region’s unique multiethnic sounds, featuring a multitude of haunting a capella recordings of harvest songs, sung prayers, secular ballads, and ritual dances with castanets, bombo (bass drum), and other instruments endemic to the region.

In contrast, the Algarve region in southern Portugal is a popular tourist destination. Musical influences from Morocco and Andalusia are audible in the stray bended notes, even though the sounds are distinctively Portuguese. These recordings originate from several small villages in the region and were carefully chosen by musicologist Fernando Lopes Graça for their folkloric authenticity. They range from religious ballads, lullabies, and holiday songs to more well-known forms like the corridinho (a joyful dance).

Track Listing

101	Alvorada (Aubade) Manuel Aires	03:15
102	Conde Ninho, O: Harvest Song Albino António Gonçalves and Francisco Machado	01:21
103	Manhaninha De. S. João: Religious Ballad Maria Pires and Carlos Gonçalves	02:07
104	Agora Baixon o Sol: Threshing Song Albino António Gonçalves and Francisco Machado	01:09
105	Viste lá o Meu Amado: Excerpt from Passion Play Maria Teresa dos Reis Sevivas and Teresa de Jesus Reis	02:32
106	Murinheira: Transmontana Dance Carlos Gonçalves, Maria Pires Gordilha, and António Martins Peleias	02:03
107	Dona Ancra: Traditional Ballad Nerida da Purificação Juan	03:54
108	Deus Te Salve, Rosa: Pastoral Ballad Florinda Rodrigues	01:34
109	Faixinha Verde: Threshing Song Júlia Barreira	01:35
110	Li-La-Ré: Song Maria Pires Gordilha	01:48
111	Valdevinos: Harvesting Song Florinda Rodrigues and Alberto Gomes	01:33
112	Dona Filomena: Ballad Ana do Rio	01:59
201	Malva, Malveta: Threshing Song Amélia Afonso and João Barreira	01:15
202	A Mal-Casada: Threshing Ballad Florinda Rodrigues	01:46
203	Perdigão, O: Threshing Song Francisco Machado	01:56
204	Galandum: Dance Song n/a	00:48
205	Vinte-Cinco: Dance of the Sticks n/a	02:54
206	Mineta: Spinning Song Júlia Barreira	01:27
207	Encomendação das Almas: Religious Chant José Manuel Martins	01:37
208	Cantilena da Pedra: Stone-Loaders Song António Valdemar Correia da Silva	01:31
209	Bendito: Prayer Song Francisco Rodrigues	02:46
210	Ró-Ró: Lullaby Justina de Jesus Igrejas	01:46
211	Redondo: Pastoral Dance José da Igreja	02:59
212	D. Fernando: Romance-Ballad Ana do Rio	02:47
213	Dá-Lá-Dou: Shepherd's Song Dinora Fernandes and Ana do Rio	01:50
301	Leva, Leva!: Fisherman's Song n/a	04:08
302	Dona Mariana: Ballad Adélia Rosado	04:49
303	Baile Mandado José de Sousa	01:18
304	Oração do Probezinho: Religious Ballad Ana Custódia	02:45
305	Despique: Challenge Song José Vitorino	01:08
306	Oração de Santo António: Religious Ballad Deolinda Branco Pereira	01:26
307	Dom Varão: Romance-Ballad Adélia Rosado	03:07
308	Excelências da Virgem, As: Religious Song Ana Custódia	01:30
309	Janeiras: New Year's Carol José Nunes Fernandes	01:44
310	Ai-O-Linda!: Song José Ventura	02:00
401	Oração das Almas: Prayer for the Dead (Carol) Manuel José Domingues and Manuel José da Eira	03:10
402	Deus Te Salve, ó Rosa: Pastoral Ballad Adélia Rosado	02:39
403	Três "Cavalheiros", Os: Religious Ballad Ana Custódia	02:10
404	Corridinho (I): Dance Melody José de Sousa	01:40
405	Salvé-Rainha: Antiphony to the Virgin Manuel Grade Natal	02:24
406	Laurinda: Romance-Ballad Mariana Vitorino	03:02
407	A Confissão da Virgem: Religious Ballad Deolinda Branco Pereira	01:46
408	Cativo, O: Romance-Ballad Anastásia Maria	01:28
409	Corridinho (II) n/a	01:41
410	Faça Ai, Ai, Meu Menino: Lullaby Maria da Conceiçâo Pacheco	02:07
411	Boas-Festas: Christmas Carol Maria da Conceiçâo Lima and Júlia Castro Fernandes	01:58