Le chant du pain: Tras-os-Montes: recherches sur le romanceiro, and: Romances du Tras-os-Montes: melodies et poesies (review)
Gerald Porter
Reviewed by: Le chant du pain: Trás-os-Montes: recherches sur le romanceiro, and: Romances mélodies et poésies Gerald Porter romanceiro. By Anne Caufriez. (Paris: Centre Culturel Calouste Gulbenkian,1998. Pp. 371, 19 illustrations, bibliographic references, discography, indexes.) poésies. 287, 8 indexes, CD.) These books together make up a detailed study and edition of the narrative work songs [End Page 109] most isolated area Portugal, Trás-os-Montes, ("beyond mountains"). They are based on three trips that Caufriez made between 1978 1983, when she collected 140 ballads, including versions narratives told at greater length in Carolingian Romanesque cycles. Some her outstanding recordings have already been released 1993 CD Portugal: Trás-os-Montes (Ocora C 580035). includes almost all romances by printed Portuguese with French translation their music, second singer many cases. Several striking variants given. A superb 50-minute accompanies both reviewed here. The 27 recordings, 13 eight solo ensemble bagpipe pieces, very high quality indeed would justify price volume even for those without or Portuguese. ends unforgettably plaintive love song about weaver accompanied clacking singer's loom. companion volume, pain, is an extensive parts: first, relation to ballads Iberian peninsula Azores, ultimately Mediterranean as whole; second, processes like weaving, garment making, harvesting rye; and, finally, full melodic complexity. maintains ballad is, verbally musically, kind boiled-down version epic (Le p. 40). seem derive from elements medieval chansons de geste, each seems be fragment whose other parts never explicit 43). also traces links Greco-Balkan traditions, "which find meeting point ballad" 64n). As border province, shows considerable influence Galicia, which appears romanceiro once-widespread playing bagpipe. poorest members community overwhelmingly, women villages. clearly purpose communal functional. In first place, they hedge against poverty: local saying goes, "fire music protect you wolves" 133). More than that, "the expresses solidarity human community, thereby forms free autonomous entity" 204). typically sung associated kinds tasks, mowing reaping, leading cows out pasture, beating flax, shelling almonds chestnuts, course, lulling babies sleep. less commonly found context threshing herding: one woman's donkey sway rhythm its favorite 172). frequently antiphonally dialogue form often, changed, so did song, least melody pp. 170, 192). particularly interesting feature way some songs, not themselves religious, secular musical liturgy measures working day. Thus romance "A Morena" (included CD) across region hour none (2:00 p.m.). According Caufriez, this ritualization harvest unique Tr...
Journal of American Folklore