D. Maria Teresa do Carmo de Noronha, (November 7, 1918 – July 5, 1993) was … Read Full Bio ↴D. Maria Teresa do Carmo de Noronha, (November 7, 1918 – July 5, 1993) was a Portuguese aristocrat and a fado singer.

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.

Folhas Caídas
Maria Teresa de Noronha Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Outono, folhas caídas,
Com sangue Deus as pintou;
Folhas tão cedo nascidas,
Pobres folhas mal vividas,
Um vento louco as levou.

Nasceram na Primavera,
Fê-las Deus da cor da esperança;

Sonharam uma quimera:
Serem como as folhas da hera,
De saudade e de lembrança.

Mas chega o Verão, o calor,
E as folhas verdes tão belas
Vão perdendo o seu frescor;
Pressentem a sua dor,
Ficam tristes, amarelas.

Ao Inverno não chegaram,
Foram curtas suas vidas;
Da cor do sangue as pintaram,

Ventos loucos as levaram,
Outono, folhas caídas.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Maria Teresa de Noronha's song "Folhas Caídas" (Fallen Leaves) speak of the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. The first stanza likens fallen leaves to bloodstains, emphasizing the sense of loss and finality. The second stanza speaks of the hopes and dreams that the leaves once had, likening them to the hopes and dreams of humans who also face the reality of mortality. The third stanza speaks of the changing seasons and how the once-green leaves lose their vitality and become yellowed and sad, symbolizing the aging process and the sadness that comes with it. Finally, the fourth stanza speaks of how the leaves never made it to winter, underscoring the idea that life is short and unpredictable.

The use of nature imagery to convey the eternal cycle of life and death is a common theme in Portuguese music, and "Folhas Caídas" is a beautiful example of this. The lyrics are poignant and touching, reminding the listener to cherish every moment and not take life for granted. The song's melody is also melancholic and haunting, further emphasizing the sadness and sense of loss that the lyrics convey.

Line by Line Meaning

Outono, folhas caídas,
Autumn has arrived, leaves have fallen

Com sangue Deus as pintou;
God has painted them with blood

Folhas tão cedo nascidas,
Leaves that were born too soon

Pobres folhas mal vividas,
Poorly lived leaves

Um vento louco as levou.
A crazy wind took them away

Nasceram na Primavera,
They were born in Spring

Fê-las Deus da cor da esperança;
God made them with the color of hope

Sonharam uma quimera:
They dreamed of a fantasy:

Serem como as folhas da hera,
To be like the ivy leaves,

De saudade e de lembrança.
Full of nostalgia and memories.

Mas chega o Verão, o calor,
But Summer comes with its heat,