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This CD Portuguese Guitar Anthology from Sevenmuses editions is a very representative work that includes many of the great players of this instrument, especially from the generations that stood out during the 20th century. This work clearly demonstrates the masterful performance with which these great names became synonymous with the instrument itself, constituting a reference for all generations that followed. The first part of this album is dedicated to Lisbon and the second part to Coimbra, thus exemplifying the different schools, the way of playing as well as the distinct repertoire that is mostly divided between these two cities.
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It is true that the Portuguese guitar is intrinsically linked to fado, but it is a solo concert instrument that can perform a vast repertoire beyond fado, and has great potential due to its unique sound. A good example is Carlos Paredes, who created his own repertoire for this instrument largely based on the Coimbra school, son of Artur Paredes, who played a major role in the design of the Coimbra guitar in close collaboration with the Grácio family of builders. Guitarists such as António Portugal or Jorge Tuna are also great references in the Coimbra guitar scene.
The language of Lisbon is closer to fado, many of the variations are based on fados in a major or minor key, often with improvised melodies, others using the melody of the voice – which happens a lot in rhapsodies. Armandinho, Jaime Santos, Francisco Carvalhinho, Fontes Rocha, José Nunes or Raúl Nery are unavoidable names from the Lisbon school, some of whom had their own guitar groups and others were part of large trios, quartets or quintets.
It is important to mention the equal mastery in accompanying the viola or classical guitar, Martinho d’Assunção is an excellent example who, in addition to accompanying many of these guitar masters, also accompanied most of the great fado voices of his time. Joel Pina, who was his student, is the ultimate symbol in bass guitar accompaniment.
As far as Coimbra is concerned - Fernando Alvim was Carlos Paredes' great partner on the guitar, he was the only one who could guess and follow what Paredes was going to do next.
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