Founded in 1976

TRADITIONAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
ISLAND OF SÃO MIGUEL, THE AZORES

In our performances the group employs only genuinely traditional instruments, namely our local guitar or still our guitar in the shape of two hearts known as "viola de arame" ("wire guitar"), which lend our folk music its characteristic, unique sound. The origin of this last instrument is unknown but it is thought to have come to the islands with the first settlers from some region on the Portuguese mainland, where it subsequently became extinct. Other instruments used in musical accompaniment are the acoustic guitar, drum and triangle. In the picture above one may see a variety of traditional costumes such as those worn by rich, well-to-do and poor country folk.

POOR WOMAN AND FARMER'S COSTUMES FROM THE
REGION OF RELVA, ISLAND OF SÃO MIGUEL, AZORES

She dons a traditional rustic hand woven serge skirt with plain striped or pointed embroidered trimming. The apron with side pocket contrasts with the skirt and also sports stripes or checked cloth on its lower half, as does the skirt. The white linen shirt is decorated with pleats and white lace and inlays and is complemented by leather and wooden boots. The floral headscarf in the bright colours that are so much to the liking of country folk, matches the skirt whereas the petticoat and drawers are in white cotton with white lace and inlays.
He wears drill pants with braces and a buckle at the back, a blue and white striped flax shirt with a large pocket in which a roll of tobacco is kept and a drill jacket, known as a "guarda-pó", which may, in some cases, not necessarily match the pants but be in some other similar material and hue, a woolen cap and the traditional leather and wooden sandals.

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