Maria Teresa de Noronha’s particularity in fado is due to her voice, expressive force and her synchronization with the instruments.
Her beautiful, natural soprano voice, rigorously tuned, was always superbly positioned either in low or high pitches and was provided with an unmatched agility and capacity to elaborate intricate melodic ornaments with precision. Her perfection is evidenced in her brilliant repertoire of some lower-pitched fados of Coimbra, generally a turf for male voices.
The expressive force is a must for those rigorosos like M.T. Noronha, who interpreted almost exclusively fados castiços, in which the music is repeated four to five times. The challenge for the virtuous singer is to stylize, i.e. to vary the melodic design of each stanza according to the emotional suggestions of the lyrics themselves. Maria Teresa de Noronha’s style was to introduce the fados with a simple and clear melody and subsequently to insert a variety of dynamic nuances, hinting the main words with either more intensity, an intimate whisper or briefly suspending her voice. Generally it isn’t until the final stanza that the full climax is reached.
Fado em Cinco Estilos
Maria Teresa de Noronha Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mas muito mais quero aos meus
(Pois se perdesse meus olhos
Não podia ver os teus) 2X
(Se eu de saudades morrer
Apalpa meu coração
Talvez eu torne a viver
Se os meus olhos te incomodam
Quando estão na tua frente
(Eu prometo arrancá-los
E amar-te cegamente) 2X
(Gosto de cantar o fado
Acho que o fado tem raça) 2X
(E que não foi só criado
Para cantar a desgraça) 2X
In Maria Teresa de Noronha's Fado em Cinco Estilos, the lyrics are centered around love and appreciation for another person, while also embracing oneself. The singer expresses that they care deeply for the other person's eyes, but they care even more about their own eyes, because without their vision they wouldn't be able to see the other person's eyes. It's a message about self-love and the importance of valuing oneself first.
The second verse is about the singer struggling with the pain of missing the other person. They hope that if they die of longing, the other person might be able to revive them through touch. This is a poignant reminder of the powerful impact that love, and even the lack of it, can have on a person's life. The third verse is a declaration that if the other person doesn't like the singer's eyes, then they are willing to remove them to show their love. This speaks to the lengths that people might go to express their feelings towards others, even if it means sacrificing a part of themselves.
Finally, in the last verse, the singer explains that they enjoy singing Fado because it has a distinct sound and captures the essence of Portuguese music. They believe that Fado isn't just about singing about sadness or hardship, but also about celebrating the beauty and culture of Portugal. Overall, Fado em Cinco Estilos is a beautiful song that speaks to the complexity of love and the importance of self-love and appreciation.
Line by Line Meaning
Eu quero bem aos teus olhos
I care about what you think of me
Mas muito mais quero aos meus
But I care even more about my own feelings
(Pois se perdesse meus olhos
(Because if I lost my sight
Não podia ver os teus) 2X
I couldn't see yours)
(Se eu de saudades morrer
(If I die of longing
Apalpa meu coração
Touch my heart
Talvez eu torne a viver
Maybe I'll come back to life
Ao calor da tua mão) 2X
With the warmth of your hand)
Se os meus olhos te incomodam
If my eyes bother you
Quando estão na tua frente
When they're in front of you
(Eu prometo arrancá-los
(I promise to pluck them
E amar-te cegamente) 2X
And love you blindly)
(Gosto de cantar o fado
(I like to sing fado
Acho que o fado tem raça) 2X
I think fado has roots)
(E que não foi só criado
(And that it wasn't just created
Para cantar a desgraça) 2X
To only sing about misery)
Contributed by Jayce W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Teresa Negrão
Outra fadista tão especial ,que voz tão melodiosa e este fado é tão lindo . Adoro
Manuel Valério Gadêlha Da Silva
Um dos muitos e raros mistérios do Fado, a voz maravilhosa e cativante de uma dos seus expoentes mais ilustres acompanhada por verdadeiros mestres desta sublime arte. Obrigado por esta muito bela gravação...Fadomeu.
alzira fragoso
Verdade O quanto Gosto desta Senhora Fadista que voz mais Doce
Manuel Valério Gadêlha Da Silva
@alzira fragoso; Cara Alzira, seu breve comentário mostra, que sois grande apreciadora do precioso Fado Antigo... Obrigado por seu zeloso feedback!!! Bom dia, paz e bem sempre!!!
Nataliat Santos
Uma das grandes senhoras do fado uma obra maesta de elegañcia distinçáo e sencibilidade eternamente nos nossos coraçôes saudade♥️♥️♥️🌹🌹🌹🌹
bruno neves
o estilo de maria teresa noronha era inconfundivel,grande cantora.
Juan Terges
Estamos a falar dunha das cinco grandes damas do fado: Hermínia Silva, Berta Cardoso, Lucília do Carmo, Maria Teresa de Noronha e, a mais grande de todas elas, Amália.
Abilio Henriques
Ao ouvir D.Maria Teresa de Noronha vem á minha mente uma interrogação, porque não se faz uma homenagem a esta Sra ,será uma das belas vozes feminina a cantar fado,
Celso Gonzaga Franco
maria tereza noronha, linda, linda, linda,!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Afonso D'Orey
Virtuosismo puro, inegualável..