Alice Lemos Avila and friends performing Portuguese songs and music,
1938-1939

Sound recordings: In Portuguese.

Manuscripts: In English and Portuguese.

Comprises a group of field materials documenting Alice Lemos Avila and friends performing Portuguese songs and music from December 31, 1938 through April 12, 1939, collected by Sidney Robertson Cowell in Oakland, California. Recordings include fados, lullabies, dance music, love songs, serenades, Christmas and Epiphany carols, and songs from the Azores sung and performed on the English guitar, guitar, viola d'arame, triangle, and mandolin.

December 31, 1938 of Alice Lemos Avila with friends:
Vira do Minho
Fado Portugues
El capotin

January 23, 1939 of Alice Lemos Avila with Clifford Franco, Ed Pavon, and unnamed friends:
Tia Anica Loule
Serenata a lua

January 23, 1939 of Alice Lemos Avila alone:
Fado Hilario
O Compadre

January 25, 1939 of Alice Lemos Avila with Ed Pavon and Clifford Franco:
Adeus Ulina
Margarita vai a fonte
Fado Corrido

January 25, 1939 of Clifford Franco alone:
Fado Carolino

March 8, 1939 of Alice Lemos Avila with Antonio Medeiros, Albert Avila, and Elzira Silva:
Noite de Natal
Santos Reis
San Joao
Padeirinha
Escola par
O Senhor Ladrao
Noite de reis
Por Ti
Mulher ingrata

April 12, 1939 of Alice Lemos Avila with Frank Cunha and Joachim and Olive Flores:
Minha mai
A Florista
Se eu fosse rato
Triste fado
Pezinho dos Bezorros
Olhos negros
Fado do Coimbra

April 12, 1939 of Frank Cunha and Joachim Flores:
Jota Navarra
Manton de manila
Vals Portugues
Alma Andalucia
A media luz

April 12, 1939 by Olive and Joachim Flores and Frank Cunha:
A beira d'alvo regato
Atonico

Photographs:

Alice Lemos Avila with John Cunha, and Joachim and Olive Flores
English guitars belonging to Alice Lemos Avila and Clifford Franco

Technical drawings:

English guitar
Guitar
Viola d'arame

Textual and melodic transcriptions:

A beira d'alvo regato
Adeus Ulina
A Florista
Fado Hilario
Margarida vai a fonte
Minha mai
Noite de Natal
O Senhor Ladrao
Padeirinha
San Joao
Santos Reis
Sao Joao
Tia Anica
Triste fado
Vira do Minho
Lists of Portuguese songs arranged by Alice Lemos Avila

General Notes:

Sidney Robertson Cowell refers to the English guitar as the "Portuguese guitar," or "guitarra portuguesa." She also refers to the viola d'arame as the "Portuguese viola," or "Portuguese vihuela," the guitar as the "Spanish guitar," and the triangle as the "ferrinho."

Biographical and historical notes:

Frank Cunha came to the United States from Portugal when he was five years old.

Joachim Flores is from Costa Rica. His wife, Olive, is Portuguese from the island of Sao Miguel in the Azores.

Antonio Medieros is a native of Faial in the Azores.

Albert Avila is Alice Lemos Avila's son.

For more information see:

For recordings of Alice Lemos Avila performing alone on another occasion, see: Alice Lemos Avila performing Portuguese songs, February 6, 1939

For recordings of Louise and Clifford Franco performing on another occasion, see: Louise Franco, Clifford Franco, and Mary Silveira performing Portuguese songs, August 15, 1939

For technical drawings and sketches of the English guitar, viola d'arame, and guitar made for this collection, search by using subject terms.

am Jun-27-97