Portuguese music is widely known for its folk traditions, largely based on the most known fado, but also the musical styles that derived from it. Although this style characterizes better the Portuguese spirit and its deep identity, many others are now present due to outside influences, like rock, hip-hop, metal or jazz.

And in the 20th century, Portugal had, due to its dictatorship that lasted around 40 years, a clear division. Until 1974, the date of the revolution that ended the dictatorship, the music was more traditional, more populist, and heavily controlled by the regime. After that, the country opened itself to the world, and more musical styles started to influence artists, and paved way for new bands and musicians to create new sounds, and spread their talent.But there is more to it when it comes to Portuguese music, and below we talk about some interesting facts surrounding it.

The tune of revolution

As already mentioned, the country was under a dictatorship for most of the 20th century, which leads to a very heavy control of the arts in Portugal. Theatre, music, literature, were all under the eye of the regime and the censorship. But still, many artists made the bold move, to express their art, the discontent and the opposition to the government. Music was essential to that. Many musicians like José Afonso or Sérgio Godinho, created political music. And the interesting fact is that the military, on the night of the revolution, used music on the radio to signal the different military barracks, that the plan was on the move. 

Portuguese Guitar

Fado is almost impossible to be interpreted, without the Portuguese Guitar’s steel strings providing an involving background. This traditional guitar has its origins in the thirteenth-century cítole used by troubadours, and it developed to the design we know today, with twelve steel strings. Besides its characteristic sound, this guitar is also known as one of the few instruments in the world, that still uses Preston tunes.

Portugal’s Bagpipe

That’s right, Portugal has its own traditional bagpipe, called the gaita transmontana. It has its roots in the northeast region of the country, in Trás-os-Montes district, and it dates back to the eighteenth century. It has a grave tone and a low pitch, and it was used to mark the marching cadence of infantry regiments. Due to its awkward tone, it is said, that during the Peninsular War, the French soldiers, would be intimidated by the sound, because they weren’t familiarized with it.

The instrument was almost lost due to the country’s interior’s desertification, but since then, efforts were made in order to save the instrument and the tradition of its use.

Cante Alentejano

This music style is only based on vocal music, and it comes from the south region in Portugal, Alentejo. It is chanted in choir, and it has developed from the chants from people working in rural areas, and it has a cadence and rhythmic monotone.

The tradition was also in danger, due to desertification and migration of people, but it was saved and kept alive by several cultural institutions, which did such a good, that in 2014, UNESCO considered this tradition part of its Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.