Fado facts for kids

Fado (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈfaðu]) is a special type of music from Portugal. It means "destiny" or "fate." This music started in Lisbon around the 1820s, but it might be even older. Historians say that most of what we know about Fado's early days was passed down by people telling stories.

Today, Fado is a song style that can be about anything. It usually follows a traditional structure. Many people think Fado songs are often sad. They are sometimes about the sea or the lives of poor people. These songs often share feelings of acceptance, destiny, and a bit of sadness.

This feeling is captured by the Portuguese word saudade. It means a deep longing or missing something very much. It's like feeling a permanent loss that leaves a lasting mark. Similar music styles can be found in former Portuguese colonies. For example, morna from Cape Verde might be linked to early Fado.

Fado also connects to the music of working people in Portuguese cities and ports. This includes sailors, dock workers, and fish sellers. Other music styles like Brazilian modinha and Indonesian kroncong also share these roots. However, all these music types later developed their own unique traditions.

Many famous Fado singers have shared this music with the world. Some well-known names include Alfredo Marceneiro, Amália Rodrigues, Carlos do Carmo, and Mariza. On November 27, 2011, Fado was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists. This means it's recognized as an important part of human culture.

What Does "Fado" Mean?

The Portuguese guitar is often used in Fado music.

The word "fado" likely comes from the Latin word fatum. This word means "fate" or "destiny." So, the name of the music is closely linked to its meaning. Many Fado songs play on this double meaning. For example, in Amália Rodrigues' song "Com que voz," she sings about lamenting her "sad fate" or singing her "sad fado."

The History of Fado Music

Fado first appeared in Lisbon in the early 1800s. It is thought to have started in lively areas like Bairro Alto, Mouraria, and Alfama. These were bohemian parts of the city.

One idea about Fado's beginning comes from a Brazilian music expert. He suggested that a Brazilian musician named Domingos Caldas Barbosa brought Fado to Portugal in the mid-1700s.

There are many different ideas about where Fado truly came from. Some think it might be linked to old medieval songs. Others suggest it could have been influenced by ancient Moorish music. Some even point to songs sung by enslaved Africans at sea. It's most likely that Fado grew and changed from several older music styles.

In the mid-1800s, Fado performers were mostly working-class people. They were often sailors and bohemian artists who sang, danced, and even beat the rhythm in taverns. By the late 1800s, the dancing stopped. Performers became mainly singers, known as fadistas.

Maria Severa was a famous Fado singer in the 1800s.

A 19th-century fadista named Maria Severa-Onofriana helped make Fado famous. She was a half-Romani woman who was seen as quite daring at the time. More recently, Amália Rodrigues became known as the "Queen of Fado." She played a huge role in making Fado popular around the world. Today, Fado performances might include a string quartet or a full orchestra.

How Fado Music Sounds

Fado often uses specific musical scales, like the Dorian or Ionian modes. Sometimes, it switches between these scales during a song. A special part of Fado is called rubato. This is when the music pauses at the end of a phrase. The singer holds a note for a moment to create a dramatic feeling. Fado music can use both double time and triple time rhythms, like a waltz.

Different Kinds of Fado

There are two main types of Fado, each connected to a different city: Lisbon and Coimbra.

The Lisbon style is the most famous. This is largely thanks to the popularity of Amália Rodrigues. Some believe that Fado only appeared on the streets of Lisbon after 1840. Before that, sailors might have sung Fado on their boats. Lisbon even has a Fado Museum where you can learn more.

Coimbra Fado

Coimbra students playing Fado during a serenade at the Old Cathedral of Coimbra.

The Coimbra Fado style is linked to the city's university. It connects to the medieval tradition of serenading singers called troubadours. Only men sing Coimbra Fado. Both the singers and musicians wear their academic outfits, which include a dark robe and cape.

This style is often sung at night, almost in the dark. You can hear it in city squares or streets. Popular spots include the steps of the Santa Cruz Monastery and the Old Cathedral of Coimbra. It's also common for students to perform serenades. These are songs sung outside a woman's window to show affection.

Like Lisbon Fado, Coimbra Fado uses the guitarra portuguesa (Portuguese guitar) and the viola (another type of guitar). The Coimbra guitar has changed over time. It now has its own unique tuning, sound, and way of being built. Artur Paredes was a very important singer who changed how the guitar was tuned and played in Coimbra Fado. His son, Carlos Paredes, followed in his footsteps. He helped make the Portuguese guitar famous worldwide.

In the 1950s, Coimbra singers started a new movement. They began to sing ballads and folk songs. They also put the words of great poets to music. This was a way to resist the government at the time, led by Salazar. Singers like Adriano Correia de Oliveira and José Afonso played a big role in popular music during the Carnation Revolution in 1974.

Some of the most famous Coimbra Fado songs include Fado Hilário and Saudades de Coimbra. The "judge-singer" Fernando Machado Soares wrote some of these well-known fados. Interestingly, the most famous song about Coimbra is not a Fado. It's a popular song called Coimbra é uma lição, which became famous as April in Portugal.

See also

• Fados, a 2007 movie about fado by Spanish director Carlos Saura
• List of fado musicians