Académica da Madeira Fado Group

The Fado Group of the Student’s Union of the University of Madeira Fatum was established in January, 2010, contradicting the lack of tradition of listening to the voices of the students who accompanied the warble of the guitars from Coimbra.

The creation of a group of this nature have long been an aim of Académica da Madeira. Since 2007, the anniversary of the maganize belonging to the Student’s Union was celebrated with a Fado of Coimbra’s night, which was exclusive for people who were directly connected to Académica. The event’s success demanded that it should be open to the general public, an aim which was fulfilled with the recreation of a tradition serenade from coimbra, the Serenata Académica da Madeira, a year after.

Fatum thus emerged with the frenzy and the enthusiasm that were left by the groups who passed over here. Capas Negras, Grupo de Fados do Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Sangue Novo and the Grupo Madeirense de Fados de Coimbra where greatly responsible for the idea, which is now accomplished, of a fado group belonging to the University of Madeira.

The first performance took place on the 26th of March, 2010, in the in the context of the 4th anniversary of the Académica da Madeira’s magazine. From that date onwards, the group began to make many performances, thus presently being the resident group of the Fado Concerts that are monthly held in the Jesuit College in Funchal, another project that was dynamised by the Student’s Union.

THE PORTUGUESE FEELING AS SUNG BY STUDENTS

Fado (from latin, fatum meaning destiny) is a musical genre that is naturally plangent and fatalistic in Lisbon, whereas in Coimbra it assumes nature of a ballad.

The Coimbra’s Fado or Canção de Coimbra is an urban genre that has its origins in that city, which is strongly related to the University. It is completely incorporated in the historical centre of Coimbra, in the University and in the culture related to these centerary scenaries, the Coimbra’s Fado is itself a manifestation of the portuguese culture, which is mostly recognized as World Heritage by UNESCO.

The portuguese Fado emerged from the popular forms of the portuguese culture mixed with castilian, french and even moriscos sounds. The aspects of Canção de Coimbra came from the trobadour-like lyric, which makes up the first form of portuguese literature, immediately leading to a more carefull performance in the writing and musical composition.

The lovely poetry of high literary level that is associated to the pluckering of the strings thus turned this musical style more distinct.But the bohemian soul of the Coimbra Students, loving and heroine, developed many styles according to the fashionable themes: serenades, classical fados, popular or religious songs, lullabies, guitars and, of course, the apology to the academic life of Coimbra.

It was further used as a political manifesto in the defense of freedom and the academic values of Coimbra, leading many authors and interpreters to prison and exile, which have equally been made the motto of new compositions.

A work done by many illustrious authors, the Canção de Coimbra came to the world by the hand of António Nobre, Antero de Quental, Eça de Queiroz, de Guerra Junqueiro, de António Nobre, de Aristides de Sousa Mendes, de Miguel Torga, de Eugénio de Andrade, de Edmundo de Bettencourt, de Artur Paredes, de Carlos Paredes, de Zeca Afonso, de Manuel Alegre, de António Portugal and many others.

Today there are many student groups who dedicate themselves to this genre, expressing what was best composed in portuguese.

The Coimbra Fado that is seen today as an important expression of the portuguese culture, can be presented in serenates made in the streets and concerts in enclosed spaces. Possessing a duration which varies between 30 to 45 minutes, the show incorporates the diversified themes according to the topic and at the instrumental rhythm.

FADOS AND BALLADS OF COIMBRAS AND OTHER INSTRUMENTAL ADAPTATIONS

Alegre se fez triste – Manuel Alegre/José Niza.
Amor de Estudante – Zeca Afonso/Popular.
Balada da Despedida do V Ano Jurídico 88/89 – António Vicente/João Paulo Sousa e Rui. Pedro Lucas.
Balada da Despedida do VI Ano Médico 2008 – Guilherme Lourenço Fialho.
Balada da Despedida VI Ano Médico 58 (Coimbra tem mais encanto) – Fernando Machado Soares.
Balada da Distância – Luiz Goes
Balada de Despedida do VI Ano Médico de 2007 – Guilherme Fialho.
Balada do Outono – Zeca Afonso.
Balada dos meus amores – Edmundo Bettencourt/Luiz Goes.
Cantar da Emigração – Rosália de Castro/José Niza.
Canção da Infância – Armando Goes.
Canção das lágrimas – Armando do Carmo/Armando Goes.
Canção de Embalar (Canção da Estrela d’Alva) – Zeca Afonso.
Canção de Infância – Armando Goes.
Capa Negra, Rosa Negra – Manuel Alegre e António Portugal/Adriano Correia de Oliveira.
Coimbra é uma lição de amor – José Galhardo/Raúl Ferrão.
Fado da Despedida – João Conde Veiga/Luiz Goes.
Fado de Santa Cruz (Igreja de Santa Cruz) – Popular/Fortunato Roma da Fonseca.
Fado do Olhos Claros – Edmundo Bettencourt/Mário Faria Fonseca.
Fado dos Passarinhos (Passarinho da Ribeira) – Popular/António Menano e Alberto Menano.
Fado Hilário – Augusto Hilário.
Fado Solitário – António Menano/Francisco Menano
Feiticeira – Ângelo Araújo.
Inquietação – Edmundo Bettencourt/Alexandre Resende.
Maria – Antero de Quental e João Farinha.
Maria se fores ao Baile – Ângelo Araújo/Popular e Sargento J. R. Robles.
Menina e Moça (Coimbra Menina e Moça) – Américo Pinto/Popular e Fausto Frazão.
Menino d’oiro – Zeca Afonso.
Ondas do Mar – Carlos Figueiredo.
Samaritana – Álvaro Cabral.
Saudades de Coimbra – Mário Faria Fonseca/António de Sousa.
Tenho barcos, tenho remos – Popular (alentejano)/Zeca Afonso.
Traz outro Amigo também – Zeca Afonso.
Trova do Vento que Passa – Manuel Alegre/António Portugal.
Vejam Bem – Zeca Afonso.
Vira de Coimbra – Popular, adaptação por António Portugal e Zeca Afonso.

OTHER ADAPTATIONS

Adeus que me vou embora – António Variações.
As Bordadeiras – Nelson de Barros/Fernando Carvalho. Repertório de Maximiano de Sousa (Max).
Barco Negro – David Mourão Ferreira/Caco Velho e Piratini. Repertório de Amália Rodrigues.
Canoa do Tejo – Frederico de Brito (Britinho). Repertório de Carlos do Carmo.
Deolinda de Jesus – António Variações.
Foi Deus – Alberto Janes. Repertório de Amália Rodrigues.
Ó Ai Menina Ó Ai – João Nobre/Joaquim Luiz Gomes. Repertório de Maximiano de Sousa (Max).
Pedra Filosofal – António Gedeão (Rómulo de Carvalho)/Manuel Freire.
Pomba branca – Vasco de Lima Couto/Max. Repertório de Maximiano de Sousa (Max).
Por morrer uma andorinha – João da Mata/ Frederico de Brito/ Francisco Viana. Repertório de Carlos do Carmo.
Quero é viver – António Variações. Repertório de Humanos.
Zanguei-me com meu amor – Linhares Barbosa/Popular. Repertório de Amália Rodrigues.

INSTRUMENTALS

Asas sobre o Mundo – Artur Paredes.
Balada de Coimbra – Carlos Paredes.
Canção da Primavera – Francisco Martins.
Canção de Alcipe – Afonso Correia Leite.
Dança Palaciana – Carlos Paredes.
Dança – Carlos Paredes. ​
Variações em Lá menor – João Bagão.
Variações em Ré menor – Artur Paredes.
Verdes Anos – Carlos Paredes.