WHILE Fernando Ponte is into classical, Ricardo J Martin is into folk Portuguese guitar — Fado, a folk musical genre which has earned the tag of Intangible Cultural Heritage from UNESCO. So when the two collaborated for the first time as a team at the ninth e d i t i o n o f t h e C a l c u t t a International Classical Guitar Festival at Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), the audience relished every moment of t h e Po r t u g u e s e r e p e r t o i r e. Excerpts from their candid chat with Indulge:
How was it to jam for the first time?
Ricardo Martins: We have known each other for a long time, and I always felt that it could be a good fusion of crossing his classical influences with the Fado or Portuguese guitar kind of music.
Has the Portuguese guitar, as an instrument, changed over the years?
RM: The Portuguese guitar or Guitarra Portuguesa is used in our Fado music, and has changed over the years. It must be about 100 to 150 years old instrument. I also play other instruments, including the electric guitar, classical guitar, bass, mandolin and cavaquinho.
FP: I had an academic formation in classical guitar, and that is my instrument.
1.jpg?w=640&auto=format%2Ccompress)
Tell us something about the Fado, and how you have gone beyond the genre to create music.
RM: Fado, which has earned the tag of Intangible Cultural Heritage from UNESCO, is traditional folk music from Lisbon. There are many theories about it. Some say it came from Brazil, or Africa. It was conceived in small taverns that are now called Fado Houses, and was a way of expression for people about love, jealousy and life in general. It has an Arabic flavour as the Arabs had been in Portugal many centuries ago.
What do you prefer — solo, duet or group performances?
RM: I opted for the Portuguese guitar about 14 years ago, and I happened to stumble upon it while I was looking for a main instrument for myself. I prefer to play solo instrumental music, rather than with a singer. But I have done both. My solo project usually is a trio (Portuguese guitar, classical guitar and bass) or a quartet (Portuguese guitar, classical guitar, bass and percussion).
FP: I prefer duet or group performances, and any instrument is great to jam with.
.jpg?w=640&auto=format%2Ccompress)
Where do you get the inspiration for music? Has your style been influenced by any other country’s traditions?
RM: I get inspired by all that I listen to. I love classical music, rock and ethnic music, while my own compositions are a fusion of all the kinds of music I like.
Which Indian musician would you like to collaborate with, and why?
RM: I love the sitar and tabla. I have never tried a sitar, but I would love to. The language of Indian music is very different from the traditional music of Portugal. But I would like to mix the sitar and tabla with the Portuguese guitar.
Was 2018 a good year for touring? And do you have a new album in the pipeline?
RM: The plan for now is to keep presenting my latest CD Cantose Lamentos (Chants and Laments) and start recording some new songs next year. This year was very good, as I got to play in Spain, France, Holland, Cape Verde, Ukraine, China and now, in India.