Portugal: Music and Dance from Madeira

Part of Portugal since its discovery in the early 15th century, Madeira developed music, dance, and festival traditions that reflect and shape its history and social life. Political and economic changes since the 1970s have stimulated a renewed appreciation of local traditions that are researched and performed today by many grassroots folk groups, such as the one featured here. From the dramatic opening track of unaccompanied work calls to an old tragic ballad, song duels, dance songs, and instrumentals featuring a variety of local instruments, these sparkling and startling 1996–1997 recordings display the unique and enduring musical legacy of a disappearing rural life and the vigor of urban life. Produced and annotated through a collaboration of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa and the Associação Musical e Cultural Xarabanda in Madeira. 54 minutes, 38-page booklet. Previously unreleased.

Track Listing

101	Cantiga dos Borracheiros (Song of the Borracheiros)	Grupo de Borracheiros da Associação Flores de Maio de Porto da Cruz	07:03
102	Cantiga de Carregar Trigo (Song for Carrying Wheat)	Maria José Pestana	01:11
103	Baile da Meia-Volta (Meia-Volta Dance), dance-song	Grupo de Folclore do Porto Santo	06:43
104	Charamba, sung poetic competition, excerpt	António João Baptista, António Fernandes de Nóbrega, João Marques Gouveia, Manuel Figueira Vieira de Freitas	03:16
105	Bailinho, dance-song	Eduardo Caldeira, António Francisco Teixiera, Virgílio Caldeira, Adelino Basílio	04:49
106	O Veneno da Moriana (Moriana’s Poison), ballad	Maria Noémia Santos Velosa	03:22
107	Toque do Pife (Flute Solo)	João Caldeira	01:19
108	Cantiga do Espírito Santo (Song of the Holy Spirit)	Cristina Perpétua de Gouveia	03:34
109	História do Coelhinho (Story of the Little Rabbit), song	Virgílio Caldeira	01:10
110	Triste Avezinha (Sad Bird), for mandolin orchestra	Orquestra de Palheta do Recreio Musical União da Mocidade	04:55
111	Fado	Grupo de Folclore e Etnográfico de Boa Nova	05:01
112	Mourisca dos Canhas (Mourisca of Canhas), dance-song	Grupo Folclórico da Ponta do Sol	03:21
113	Senhor António (Mr. António), song	Grupo Folclórico da Ponta do Sol	02:17
114	Baile dos Canhas (Dance of Canhas), dance-song	Grupo Folclórico da Ponta do Sol	03:04
115	Encrenca (Trouble), instrumental composition	Musical Xarabanda	02:56