Music of Macau
Encyclopedia
Macau
is a Special Administrative Region of the China
. It was formerly a colony
of Portugal
, which left a legacy of linguistic and other cultural elements.
The music is called Macanese
music, a mixture of Chinese
and Portuguese music.
This kind of hybrid music had its boom in early 20th century and the groups that used to perform it were called "Tunas". In Portugal, the "tuna" groups consisted of young men which would get together at universities and form estudiantina-like groups, but in Macau, this kind of musical group took a different orientation, blending it with Carnival ballroom celebrations and street festivities.
The repertoire consisted of carnival marches, ballads, waltzes, cantonese-inspired ballads, fados, polkas, etc.
One of the most known songs from this period was the version in Patuá
for the Brazilian carnival march "Mamãe eu Quero", which received the title "Mama Sa Filo". Also, the popular Portuguese song "Oh Careca tira a bóina" (Portuguese for: Hey bald man, take off the beret) received also a Macanese version, named "Sium Careca”; also worth of mention are the version in patuá for the fado song "Uma Casa Portuguesa", named "Unga Casa Macaísta" and the songs "Bastiana" and "Assi Sa Macau". This last one is a composition of the cultist of patuá language in the territory, the poet
, composer
and theatre director José dos Santos Ferreira
, nicknamed "Adé", a prolific composer of music in patuá.
The Macanese group Tuna Macaense, with which Adé was closely associated, emerged in 1935 and still perform today,
although with some changes in its line-up. It currently has eight members (António Lopes – mandolim, guitar, vocal and percurssion; Rui Coelho – mandolim, bass, solo guitar and singing; Filomena Jorge – bass, rhythm guitar, solo guitar and singing; Carlos Pereira – drums and percussion; Judas Manhão Jorge – solo guitar; Pedro Santos – bass and percurssion; Isabel Carvalhal – singing and percussion; A Yiu - keyboard).
The Musical institutions in the city include the Macau Orchestra and the Macau Conservatory, which has played an important role in music education in the area since its foundation in 1991. The Macao International Music Festival is an important annual event.
One of the most important Chinese
musicians, Xian Xinghai
, was born in Macau.
The pop music in Macau is still in an early period. However, the boy band Soler has gone to Hong Kong
develop their music career.
- awarded the Champion in Carlsberg music festival 1991.
Dr. - released their debut album OD
in 2003 although they've been act as the main alternative music pioneer for several years.
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
is a Special Administrative Region of the China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. It was formerly a colony
Colony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
of Portugal
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...
, which left a legacy of linguistic and other cultural elements.
The music is called Macanese
Macanese
Macanese may refer to:* Macanese people, the people of Macau* Macanese people , an ethnic group in Macau of mainly Portuguese, and some with African, Cantonese, South Asian, Southeast Asian or other origins...
music, a mixture of Chinese
Music of China
Chinese Music has been made since the dawn of Chinese civilization with documents and artifacts providing evidence of a well-developed musical culture as early as the Zhou Dynasty...
and Portuguese music.
This kind of hybrid music had its boom in early 20th century and the groups that used to perform it were called "Tunas". In Portugal, the "tuna" groups consisted of young men which would get together at universities and form estudiantina-like groups, but in Macau, this kind of musical group took a different orientation, blending it with Carnival ballroom celebrations and street festivities.
The repertoire consisted of carnival marches, ballads, waltzes, cantonese-inspired ballads, fados, polkas, etc.
One of the most known songs from this period was the version in Patuá
Macanese language
Macanese or Macau Creole is a creole language derived mainly from Malay, Sinhalese, Cantonese, and Portuguese, which was originally spoken by the Macanese community of the Portuguese colony of Macau...
for the Brazilian carnival march "Mamãe eu Quero", which received the title "Mama Sa Filo". Also, the popular Portuguese song "Oh Careca tira a bóina" (Portuguese for: Hey bald man, take off the beret) received also a Macanese version, named "Sium Careca”; also worth of mention are the version in patuá for the fado song "Uma Casa Portuguesa", named "Unga Casa Macaísta" and the songs "Bastiana" and "Assi Sa Macau". This last one is a composition of the cultist of patuá language in the territory, the poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and theatre director José dos Santos Ferreira
José dos Santos Ferreira
José dos Santos Ferreira, better known as Adé, was born in Portuguese Macau on 28 July 1919 and died in Hong Kong on 24 March 1993. Born to a father from metropolitan Portugal and a Macanese mother, he was the last poet of distinction to write in Macanese , the Portuguese-Cantonese creole.Adé lived...
, nicknamed "Adé", a prolific composer of music in patuá.
The Macanese group Tuna Macaense, with which Adé was closely associated, emerged in 1935 and still perform today,
although with some changes in its line-up. It currently has eight members (António Lopes – mandolim, guitar, vocal and percurssion; Rui Coelho – mandolim, bass, solo guitar and singing; Filomena Jorge – bass, rhythm guitar, solo guitar and singing; Carlos Pereira – drums and percussion; Judas Manhão Jorge – solo guitar; Pedro Santos – bass and percurssion; Isabel Carvalhal – singing and percussion; A Yiu - keyboard).
One of the most important Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
musicians, Xian Xinghai
Xian Xinghai
Xian Xinghai was one of the earliest generation of Chinese composers influenced by western classical music and has influenced generations of Chinese musicians...
, was born in Macau.
The pop music in Macau is still in an early period. However, the boy band Soler has gone to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
develop their music career.
Indie Bands
Special ForceSpecial Force
Special Force is a first-person shooter military video game, published by Hezbollah, created using the Genesis 3D engine. The game is set in a 3D environment, in which the player takes the role of a Hezbollah combatant fighting the IDF...
- awarded the Champion in Carlsberg music festival 1991.
Dr. - released their debut album OD
OD
- Non abbreviated meanings of OD :* Od , a language of the Oad people* Od, a life force - see Odic force* Od, a Nordic god - see Óðr* Od, a replacement for "God" in some minced oaths- Health and medicine :...
in 2003 although they've been act as the main alternative music pioneer for several years.