Encuentro Ibèric | Adufe i cançoner de Monsanto

In the Portuguese region of Beira Baixa, there is a rich tradition of songs and of adufe playing—the square frame drum traditionally played by women—which for generations has been a central element of communal musical expression.

Although it was close to being forgotten for a time, it has regained visibility today through groups that revitalise Portuguese traditional music. However, the instrument still finds its deepest meaning in the villages where songs remain linked to local festivities and to the memory of the elders. Songs live through the adufe and, with it, women express themselves through singing; one cannot exist without the other.

In this workshop we will focus on the repertoire of Monsanto, learning its characteristic rhythms—such as the toque de passo and the toque de roda—and some songs from its songbook.

To take part in the workshop, you must bring an adufe or a square hand frame drum (the thin ones that are played without a beater). If you don’t have one, you will be able to rent one.