Portuguese Ethnic\Folk Music

[Golden Iberian]

"Romance da Mineta" - Medieval Portuguese ballad



The "Romance da Mineta" (The tale of Mineta) is the version from Trás-Montes of the popular ballad "O cego" (The blind man); "O Falso Cego" (The false blind man), also known as "O rei e a pastora" (The king and the shepherdess) and "Aninhas" (Little Anne), which dates back to medieval times. As for the name "Mineta", it most likely derives from the French name "Minette", which is an affectionate term for a person ("petite chatte"; "minou", meaning kitty), or is simply a name given to a girl or young woman. However, it must have fallen into disuse, as it is nowadays the term contains a sexual connotation.

The plot presents parallels with old Scottish ballads, such as the "Gaberlunzie man", suggesting the eventuality of its oral transmission by former sailors or other strangers. It's possible to suppose that the Portuguese sailors brought this story from Glasgow or Aberdeen, and from Viana or Oporto it was introduced in the Minho region where it is most common. Although the theme of the Portuguese ballad is much more romantic than that of the Scottish, there are similarities between the two ballads. In this version, a gentleman of high rank is disguised in the garb of a blind beggar, and speaks of love with a maiden of a much inferior birth who lived with her old mother. By agreement, more or less expressed between the two lovers, the latter presents himself by night at the door of the old woman with his whining.

He then begins to whimper and sing of his misfortune, so that the mother awakens from her slumber, who, in turn, takes pity and tells Mineta to wake up and give alms to the poor blind man (1:04). He, however, refuses, for he only wants to be put on the right path again, thus the mother asks her daughter to teach him (1:36), and so they both run away, as calmly as two lovers. Spinning homerically on her rattle, Mineta pretends to guide the blind poor man, even appearing to believe that he does not know where or what he is going to. Now showing her clear boredom (1:54), his disguise slowly begins to reveal itself, and at this she starts to mock him (2:59). At this point, the poor blind man's true identity is revealed, that is, that of a concealed earl, or in other versions a king or prince (3:47).

[Golden Iberian]

"Ó meu amor" - Portuguese Folk song



"Tosquia" ("shearing"), as the name implies, is one of the few songs accompanying the work of shearing which have survived the collection of the songs and rhythms of the Portuguese folk by Michel Giacometti. It can also be referred to by the first verse, "Ó meu amor" (Oh my love), as I have chosen to do.

The song itself, appears to be a declaration of love expressed in a melancholic and poetic tone, in which the individual expresses the depth of his love and the desire to be close with his beloved even in death. Thus, preferring to die while singing instead of crying, portraying the image of death as a form of final union with the beloved.

Watch another version (performed by a Galician group):

[Golden Iberian]

"Deus te salve, ó Rosa" - Portuguese Pastoral ballad


"Deus te salve, Ó Rosa", or more commonly referred to as "La pastorica", is a pastoral ballad widespread in Portugal, having been initially collected in Faro, Algarve (1961), by Michel Giacometti. However, this is a version from Trás-os-Montes, popularised by the singer Zeca Afonso. The novel portrays the romantic courtship of a young man with a beautiful shepherdess, who offers to be his servant and look after her flock. Rosa initially refuses the offer, but after his persistence, she finally accepts.

[Golden Iberian]

"As ffroles do meu amigo" - Medieval Galician-Portuguese chant


The "Cantigas de amigo" (Friend Songs) are part of a medieval genre of Galician-Portuguese lyric poetry and have the particularity of being narrated in a female voice, although they were mostly composed and sung by male troubadours and minstrels. They usually feature a maiden in-love who laments and sings about the romantic feelings for her 'friend' (which used to mean boyfriend) and often confides with nature or other female figures, who would answer back to her.

In this chant, the maiden sings about her friend's banners, gallantly raised on the masts of ships leaving for war, where she will fight on his behalf (to serve her). This poem is also self-referential, since the flowers of which the maiden sings are the fleurs-de-lis that were part of the troubadour's* coat of arms.

[Golden Iberian]

"Cantiga da ceifa" - Portuguese Harvest folk song



The "Cantiga da ceifa" is an old oral tradition from Penha Garcia, a village in Beira Baixa in Portugal. Catarina Chitas, a shepherdess, singer and adufe player, became known after being recorded by Michel Giacometti, including this popular song.

It's a form of folk song that used to be sung by the harvesters while they were working in the fields. The song usually describes the daily activities of the harvest, including the preparation of the field, the harvest and the preparation of the grains for storage. The song is often accompanied by a dance and, in some versions, by musical instruments such as the cavaquinho (similar to the ukelele) or the accordion.

In this song however, the harvest of the wheat to make bread while, while the stover lies below, serves as a metaphor to warn women to be cautious when choosing a partner. By the end of the day, the idea is reinforced that time should be used consciously and to be wise not waste on people that do not want to commit.