Book “Fundão: Memory, Tradition and Music” presents musical traditions of the municipality

The book “Fundão: Memory, Tradition and Music”, by authors José Alberto Sardinha and David Amaral de Brito, is a work on the musical traditions of the municipality of Fundão, the result of a vast and in-depth ethnomusical survey in all the villages of the municipality, with recordings since 1970.

Throughout the 840 pages that make up the two volumes of the work, “the musical manifestations of the entire agro-religious cycle of the year are dealt with, from work songs (of olives, singing to cattle, irrigation, harvesting, weeding corn), to traditional religious songs, namely those of Lent (Encomendações das Almas, Penitentes, etc.), passing through the traditional romanceiro, the festivals and pilgrimages in which Santa Luzia stands out, and, finally, the danced fashions and musical instruments.

Of the 991 recorded musical excerpts, 362 musical documents were selected for readers to listen to and receive information.

The book was presented on the 14th of June, in Fundão, by Luís Raposo, archaeologist, Man of Culture and President of ICOM Europe, with this presentation having a round table with the participation of Maria Adelaide Salvado, Joaquim Candeias, António Catana, Albano Matos Mendes, José Joaquim Geada, Miguel Proença and Pedro Delgado, moderated by Pedro Salvado.

There were also musical moments by popular performers from the parishes of Alcaide, the Union of Parishes of Póvoa de Atalaia and Atalaia do Campo, Castelejo, Lavacolhos, Pêro Viseu, Silvares and Souto da Casa, with instrumental arrangements by Nelo Abrantes (coordination) and Paulo Geraldes.