Cante Alentejano is as important in the South of Portugal as its rich and rustic food. Sung in groups of around 30 people, lyrics delve into traditional themes like rural life, religion and love, tempered with a certain melancholy so characteristic of the Portuguese soul. This distinctive music, performed without instruments, until recently used to be overlooked internationally, few people have heard of the traditional and seemingly obscure form of music typical in a small region in the corner of Europe. But on Thursday, UNESCO designated Cante Alentejano as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, helping to enhance awareness of its importance worldwide. When the announcement was made, 21 emotional members of the Choir and Ethnographic group of the Cassa do Povo de Serpa, stood up on stage in their rural costumes, decorative black hats on their heads and sang the famous song Alentejo, Alentejo, a popular political song heard nowadays in demonstrations and the title of a documentary by Sergio Trefaut. It is a declaration that honors us, Secretary of State for Culture Jorge Barreto Xavier told Xinhua, adding that the UNESCO designation is important in order to preserve and promote the cultural identity of the region. The designation will also have a direct effect on both tourism and the countrys economic development, he added. Cante Alentejano is Portugals third nomination to be internationally recognized by the UNESCO, following Fado in 2011 and its mediterranean diet in 2013. Fado, meaning destiny, consists of mournful solo repertoires accompanied by the mellow sounds of a citern guitar, impregnated with saudade -- an expression the Portuguese use which translates as longing. shanghaidaily/article/article_xinhua.aspx?id=255525
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 13:50:06 +0000
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