Cantares De Vilarinho / Vila Verde (Vol.9)

Released in 1976 on the Rapsódia label, this EP is part of a dedicated series documenting the traditional folk music of Vilarinho and Vila Verde. These recordings were curated to preserve the regional oral traditions and specific lyrical song structures of the Minho province in northern Portugal. The project served as an ethnomusicological effort to capture the rustic vocal styles and guitar accompaniments that were beginning to fade from everyday community life following the political transitions in Portugal during the mid-1970s.

The aesthetic of the Rapsódia EP series typically favored utilitarian design, prioritizing the documentation of the performance over elaborate visual branding. By focusing on the authentic capture of Manuel Branco de Azevedo’s interpretations, the label aimed to provide a sonic archive for listeners interested in regional Portuguese ethnography. While these records were primarily circulated among local enthusiasts and cultural archivists, they remain a significant reference point for those studying the preservation of rural Iberian folk song.