Fado

What it means

Fado is a Portuguese song that mostly deals with longing, loss, and fate. Its name goes back to the Latin “fatum,” fate. Typical is an expressive solo singing voice accompanied by the Portuguese guitar, a twelve-string guitar of pear-shaped build, and a classical guitar.

Musical use

Fado arose in the 19th century in the districts of Lisbon and was sung in taverns and houses. Later the Fado of Coimbra added a second, more student-influenced tradition. Its central feeling is saudade, a hard-to-translate mix of longing and wistfulness. Fado became known worldwide through singers such as Amália Rodrigues.

Fado should be distinguished from Spanish flamenco, with which it shares a passionate manner of expression but which comes from Andalusia and is built differently in rhythm and harmony. It also differs from the folk song in general through its established form and the special role of guitar accompaniment.

Performance practice

In fado, listen for the link between text and melody: the expression arises from small ornaments and free handling of the beat. If you sing yourself, shape each line as a story of its own and avoid even, smooth delivery.