Madredeus
Encyclopedia
Madredeus is a Portuguese
band. Their music combines traditional Portuguese music (many times erroneously associated with the subgenre of Fado
) with influences of modern folk music
. The lyrics are often melancholic and related to the sea or travelling or absence, continuing a tradition of songs that dates back to Medieval times (with obvious relations to cantigas de amigo
among others).
The band's founding members were Pedro Ayres Magalhães (classical guitar
), Rodrigo Leão
(keyboard synthesizer), Francisco Ribeiro
(cello
), Gabriel Gomes (accordion
) and Teresa Salgueiro
(vocals). Magalhães and Leão formed the band in 1985, Ribeiro and Gomes joined in 1986. They'd been searching for a female singer, and found Teresa Salgueiro
in one of Lisbon
's night clubs. Teresa liked their music and agreed to join, so in 1987 Madredeus recorded their first album, Os dias da Madredeus.
The first album was recorded in their rehearsal space, a disused abbey
in Lisbon. The recording was especially strenuous due to deafening interruptions every 5 minutes from Lisbon's tram service
, which ran directly above. In honour of this unavoidable presence in their every performance, they named themselves after the line's nearby terminus, Madre de Deus (Mother of God), shortened to the vernacular Madredeus.
In 1993, Pedro Ayres Magalhães left the band temporarily and was replaced in live concerts by José Peixoto (classical guitar
). Magalhães rejoined the group later, making it a sextet
with two guitarists.
They released several albums and became very popular in Portugal, but remained relatively unknown outside the country. This changed in 1994 when Wim Wenders
, impressed by their music, asked Madredeus to perform in his movie Lisbon Story - the soundtrack gave the band international fame. Madredeus consequently toured Europe, South America, Africa and Asia.
In 1994 Rodrigo Leão left the band to start a solo career, being replaced by Carlos Maria Trindade (keyboard synthesizer).
In 1997 Francisco Ribeiro and Gabriel Gomes left the band as Madredeus' style started abandoning its fado roots with the release of O Paraíso. At this time Fernando Júdice (Acoustic bass guitar
) was invited to join them, to form the current lineup, again a quintet
.
Madredeus has sold over 3 million albums worldwide.
In 1998 Madredeus contributed "Os Dias São A Noite (Suso Saiz Remix)" to the AIDS benefit compilation album Onda Sonora: Red Hot + Lisbon
produced by the Red Hot Organization
.
In November 2007 Teresa Salgueiro
announced she had left Madredeus.
Former member and co-founder Francisco Ribeiro released his first solo album Desiderata: A Junção do Bem in 2009. He died on September 14, 2010 from cancer.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
band. Their music combines traditional Portuguese music (many times erroneously associated with the subgenre of Fado
Fado
Fado is a music genre which can be traced to the 1820s in Portugal, but probably with much earlier origins. Fado historian and scholar, Rui Vieira Nery, states that "the only reliable information on the history of Fado was orally transmitted and goes back to the 1820s and 1830s at best...
) with influences of modern folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
. The lyrics are often melancholic and related to the sea or travelling or absence, continuing a tradition of songs that dates back to Medieval times (with obvious relations to cantigas de amigo
Cantiga de amigo
The Cantiga de amigo or Cantiga d'amigo , literally a "song about a boyfriend", is a genre of medieval erotic lyric poetry, apparently rooted in a song tradition native to the northwest quadrant of the Iberian Peninsula. What mainly distinguishes the cantiga de amigo is its focus on a world of...
among others).
The band's founding members were Pedro Ayres Magalhães (classical guitar
Classical guitar
The classical guitar is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument from the family of instruments called chordophones...
), Rodrigo Leão
Rodrigo Leão
Rodrigo Leão is a Portuguese musician and composer. He was born in Lisbon in 1964. He became known for his musical compositions and participation in Portuguese bands such as Madredeus and Sétima Legião....
(keyboard synthesizer), Francisco Ribeiro
Francisco Ribeiro
Francisco Ribeiro was a Portuguese cellist, composer, lyricist, vocalist, arranger and record producer. He was born in Lisbon, Portugal....
(cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
), Gabriel Gomes (accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
) and Teresa Salgueiro
Teresa Salgueiro
Teresa Salgueiro , OIH is a Portuguese singer. She is best known as the lead singer of Madredeus from 1987 until 2007....
(vocals). Magalhães and Leão formed the band in 1985, Ribeiro and Gomes joined in 1986. They'd been searching for a female singer, and found Teresa Salgueiro
Teresa Salgueiro
Teresa Salgueiro , OIH is a Portuguese singer. She is best known as the lead singer of Madredeus from 1987 until 2007....
in one of Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
's night clubs. Teresa liked their music and agreed to join, so in 1987 Madredeus recorded their first album, Os dias da Madredeus.
The first album was recorded in their rehearsal space, a disused abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
in Lisbon. The recording was especially strenuous due to deafening interruptions every 5 minutes from Lisbon's tram service
Trams in Lisbon
The Lisbon tramway network serves the municipality of Lisbon, capital city of Portugal. In operation since 1873, it presently comprises five urban lines, and is primarily a tourist attraction.-History:...
, which ran directly above. In honour of this unavoidable presence in their every performance, they named themselves after the line's nearby terminus, Madre de Deus (Mother of God), shortened to the vernacular Madredeus.
In 1993, Pedro Ayres Magalhães left the band temporarily and was replaced in live concerts by José Peixoto (classical guitar
Classical guitar
The classical guitar is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument from the family of instruments called chordophones...
). Magalhães rejoined the group later, making it a sextet
Sextet
A sextet is a formation containing exactly six members. It is commonly associated with vocal or musical instrument groups, but can be applied to any situation where six similar or related objects are considered a single unit....
with two guitarists.
They released several albums and became very popular in Portugal, but remained relatively unknown outside the country. This changed in 1994 when Wim Wenders
Wim Wenders
Ernst Wilhelm "Wim" Wenders is a German film director, playwright, author, photographer and producer.-Early life:Wenders was born in Düsseldorf. He graduated from high school in Oberhausen in the Ruhr area. He then studied medicine and philosophy in Freiburg and Düsseldorf...
, impressed by their music, asked Madredeus to perform in his movie Lisbon Story - the soundtrack gave the band international fame. Madredeus consequently toured Europe, South America, Africa and Asia.
In 1994 Rodrigo Leão left the band to start a solo career, being replaced by Carlos Maria Trindade (keyboard synthesizer).
In 1997 Francisco Ribeiro and Gabriel Gomes left the band as Madredeus' style started abandoning its fado roots with the release of O Paraíso. At this time Fernando Júdice (Acoustic bass guitar
Acoustic bass guitar
The acoustic bass guitar is a bass instrument with a hollow wooden body similar to, though usually somewhat larger than a steel-string acoustic guitar...
) was invited to join them, to form the current lineup, again a quintet
Quintet
A quintet is a group containing five members.It is commonly associated with musical groups, such as a string quintet, or a group of five singers, but can be applied to any situation where five similar or related objects are considered a single unit....
.
Madredeus has sold over 3 million albums worldwide.
In 1998 Madredeus contributed "Os Dias São A Noite (Suso Saiz Remix)" to the AIDS benefit compilation album Onda Sonora: Red Hot + Lisbon
Onda Sonora: Red Hot + Lisbon
Onda Sonora: Red Hot + Lisbon is the eleventh entry in the Red Hot Benefit Series of compilation albums. The album and related television special were both created by the Red Hot Organization , an international organization whose objective in this project is to raise AIDS awareness in the...
produced by the Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization is a not-for-profit, 501 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilation albums, related television programs and media events to raise...
.
In November 2007 Teresa Salgueiro
Teresa Salgueiro
Teresa Salgueiro , OIH is a Portuguese singer. She is best known as the lead singer of Madredeus from 1987 until 2007....
announced she had left Madredeus.
Former member and co-founder Francisco Ribeiro released his first solo album Desiderata: A Junção do Bem in 2009. He died on September 14, 2010 from cancer.
Discography
- Os Dias da MadreDeus (1987)
- ExistirExistirExistir , was the second full-length studio disc from Portuguese band Madredeus...
(1990) - Lisboa (1992, live in Lisbon)
- O Espírito da Paz (1994)
- Ainda (1995, soundtrack from Lisbon Story (1994 film))
- O Paraíso (1997)
- O Porto (1998, live at Porto)
- Antologia (2000, a compilation of 'best of' material)
- Movimento (2001)
- Palavras Cantadas (2001)
- Euforia (2002)
- Electrónico (2002)
- Um Amor Infinito (2004)
- Faluas do Tejo (2005)
- Metafonia (2008, feat A Banda Cósmica)
- A Nova Aurora (2009, feat A Banda Cósmica)