Fado

What is Fado?

Fado is a music originating from Portugal as far back as 1820, however it probably has much earlier origins. Fado is a mleancholy genre of music characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics. The lyrics are often about the sea or the life of the poor. A connection to sailors, dock workers and the port traders of the time. This style can also be found in Brazilian Modinha and Indonesian Kroncong, although all these music genres developed their own independent traditions.

Portuguese speakers rarely use the word fado meaning destiny or fate. A word derived from its Latin roots ´fatum´. Fado´s concrete history appeared during the early 19th century in Lisbon, believed to have originated in the port districts like Alfama, Mouraria and Bairro Alto. Fado uses the rubato form , where the music pauses at the end of a phrase and the singer holds the note for dramatic effect. The music uses double time rhythm and triple time like the waltz style.

Some of the most famous Fado singers are Amália Rodrigues, Dulce Pontes, Carlos do Carmo, Mariza, Mafalda Arnauth, António Zambujo, Ana Moura, Camané, Helder Moutinho, Aldina Duarte, Joanna Amandoeira, Ricardo Robeiro, Argentina Santos, Carminho, Mísia, Cristina Branco, Gisela João, Maja Milinkovic, and in India, Sonia Shirsat.

Where can I watch Fado music live?

Here are some of Folk and Honey´s Fado gigs, festivals and events: