The Fado T he Fado is Portugals pride and joy, and the countries national musical treasure. It is also the least accessible form of Portuguese music. When done properly, it is beautiful and touching, when done poorly it can be pompous and self serving. It is a lyrical and sentimental music, and is thought to have its roots in African Slave music. The music has come to be identified with a general sense of frustration and a unique Portuguese fatalism.
T here are two versions of the fado.
One from the Alfama and Mouraria districts of Lisbon, and the other from Coimbra. The Lisbon fado is more personal and full of feeling, and the Coimbra fado is more academic and reflects that cities ancient university traditions. Also, the Coimbra guitarra is slightly larger than the Lisbon guitarra, and consequently has a deeper sound. T he theme of any fado is usually love, albeit unrequited, but there are fados written on other subjects. There is also a version of the Fado that blends fado and folk traditions.