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The Fado of Portugal

The Fado is the national music of Portugal, a somber and haunting music comprised of a singer (the fadista) and, usually, one six-string and two fado guitars. ("Fado" is both the name of the music and the name of a particular, smallish 12-string guitar.) There are two schools of Fado: Lisboan (emotional) and Coimbra (academic). It is beautiful and odd, if rather inaccessible music. Learn a little bit about this fading cultural masterpiece, then listen to a few sound samples in RealAudio. With a link to Fado lyrics which are, of course, in Portuguese.

Mon, 03 Apr 2000 06:12:58 -0700