Violas from Portugal

Lisbon's Fado Guitar

Portuguese violas are a set of musical instruments from Portugal, all differents from each other but closely related.


They're plucked stringed instruments, with the box-shaped "8", and string double and sometimes triple ordered. Although the box has the shape of "8", these instruments are not related to the guitar (guitar). While the guitar was introduced in Portugal in the XVIII century XVIII from France and has six simple strings, the Portuguese violas are older, developed from the Iberian vihuela: they are smaller and have 5 double strings. Due to the widespread use in Portugal the word "Viola" to designate the guitar, it is common to call these guitars of "10 string guitars." However, there is no record of being called "10-string guitars."

Spanish Vihuela
 
According to Veiga de Oliveira, violas can be grouped into two large groups according to the box format: the group of violas sharp enfranque in the lands of the interior, and the group of small enfranque violas, with box the form of an "8", but with narrower proportions guitar (although modern, are built guitars with similar proportions to the guitar), on the grounds of the coast and on the islands. Some of them are endangered, but others are still enjoying great popularity, despite being adstritas the interpretation of popular music. From Portugal, these instruments travelled to Brazil which became the viola SERTANEJA or viola CAIPIRA.


Viola Braguesa





The VIOLA BRAGUESA, also called viola from Braga, braguesa or simply Viola is typical of the Minho region. In addition to the most common size, there is also a half-viola braguesa, a third tuned up, and viola requinta braguesa tuned a fifth above. It's touched by strumming, with all the fingers covering the strings.



Its length is about 90 cm (77 cm requinta). The mouth usually has the opening with a form called "mouth streak", but can also be circular in older instruments and requinta. The head is generally flat, slightly inclined with respect to the arm, and a worked shape with flora grounds with a longitudinal slot with pegs. However, you can come up with a rectangular shape  with a longitudinal slot, with pegs, similar to the viola Amarantina, or even on older instruments and requinta, it can be similar to spanish guitar heads, with two longitudinal slots and parallel to the axis of the chimes head. Exceptionally, the head may also have fan-shaped, similar to the Portuguese guitar. The easel is also extremely worked.

 

Generally, the sides are made of Australian wood or walnut, the top in Pine Flanders, poplar or lime, the fund in walnut, the arm of poplar, maple, alder, lime, brown or mahogany, the interiors in cone or poplar and scale in black wood.



The braguesa viola has 5 double strings orders: the two most acute orders are tuned in unison, the three most serious orders are tuned in octave.



Viola Beiroa

The VIOLA BEIROA, also called viola de CASTELO BRANCO, bandurra or simply Viola is typical of the Beira Baixa region. Some sources also refer to BEIROA requinta a smaller guitar size tuned a fifth above.

Its length is about 80 cm, has a box with a very tight enfranque, and a circular mouth opening. The head is flat, slightly inclined relative to the arm, and a rectangular shape with pegs. Exceptionally may be fan-shaped as in Portuguese guitar.



Generally, the sides are made of cherry wood or Australian wood, the top in Pine Flanders, the arm mahogany,  interiors in cone or poplar and scale in black wood.

The beiroa viola has 5 double strings orders: the two most acute orders are tuned in unison and the three most serious orders are tuned in octave.



In addition, the contrary has more beiroa two simple cords, which pegs are located on the bottom arm, at an angle that this makes the casing. These two strings are played loose and are named requintas.





Viola Amarantina


The VIOLA AMARANTINA,  also called viola do  Amarante, two hearts' viola or simply Viola is typical of the Douro Litoral region. It's touched by strumming, with all the fingers covering the ropes. In Cape Verde arrived to build up violas amarantinas at the beginning of the XX century, and then they simply called them "violas". Its construction and use walked a little stagnant, and the designation "viola" has come to be used for 12-string guitar.



Its length is about 90 cm. The mouth opening generally has the shape of two hearts. The scale is salient in relation to the top, and extends to above this mouth. The head is generally flat, slightly inclined with respect to the arm, and with a rectangular shape, with a longitudinal slot and pegs. Exceptionally, the head may have the form of array, similar to the English guitar. The easel is also extremely worked.

Generally, the sides are made of walnut, the top in Pine Flanders, the arm from mahogany, interiors in cone or poplar and scale in black wood.



The Amarante viola has 5 double strings orders: the two most acute orders are tuned in unison, the three most serious orders are tuned in octave.




Viola Campanica



The VIOLA CAMPANIÇA, also called viola Beja or simply Viola is typical of the Alentejo region. It is finger played or using just the thumb.

Its length is about 110 cm, has a box with a very constricted part, and a circular mouth opening. The head is flat, slightly inclined relative to the arm, and a rectangular shape with pegs.

 


Generally, the sides are made of Australian wood, the top in Pine Flanders, the arm from mahogany,  interiors in cone or poplar and scale in black wood.



The Campaniça viola has 5 strings orders: the three most acute orders are doubles and are tuned in unison, the two most severe orders are triple are tuned in octave.

 
Viola Toeira




The VIOLA TOEIRA, also called viola from Coimbra or simply Viola is typical of the Beira Litoral region.

Its length is about 86 cm and it has an oval mouth opening. The head is flat, slightly inclined relative to the arm, and a form crafted with floristic motives, with a longitudinal slot, with pegs. But can also be similar to spanihs guitars heads, with two longitudinal slots and the axis of chimes parallel to the head. The easel is also extremely worked.



Generally, the sides are made of rosewood, the top in Pine Flanders, the arm mahogany interiors in cone or poplar and scale in black wood. The inlaid button next to the pegs is made of mother of pearl.



The viola toeira has 5 strings orders: the three most acute orders are doubles and are tuned in unison, the two most severe orders are triple are tuned in octave.



Viola do Arame


VIOLA DO ARAME, is the name given to three violas typical of the Azores and Madeira. They are quite similar to each other but have slight differences depending on the island that are built.



Viola do ARAME from Madeira

The viola do ARAME Madeira, viola da Madeira or simply Viola is typical of Madeira.
Its length is about 87 cm. The mouth usually has a circular opening. The scale is salient in relation to the top, and extends to above this mouth. The head is generally flat, slightly inclined with respect to the arm, and a rectangular shape with pegs.



Generally, the sides are made of Australian wood, the top in Pine Flanders, the arm poplar, the interiors in cone or poplar and the scale in black wood.



The Madeira viola has 5 strings orders: the first and second order are double and are tuned in unison, the two most severe orders are doubles and are tuned in eighth, while the third row is twofold and can be tuned in octave or unison.



Viola do Arame São Miguel





Viola do Arame São Miguel, Viola da terra or simply Viola is typical of the island of São Miguel.
Its length is about 87 cm. The mouth opening generally has the shape of two hearts. The scale is salient in relation to the top, and extends to above this mouth. The head is generally flat, slightly inclined with respect to the arm, and a rectangular shape, the pegs.



Generally, the sides are made of walnut, the top in Pine Flanders, the arm mahogany or poplar, the interiors in cone or poplar and scale in black wood.



The São Miguel viola has 5 strings orders: the three most acute orders are doubles and are tuned in unison, the two most severe orders are threefold and are tuned in octave.



Viola do Arame Terceira

The viola Terceira, Viola da terra or simply Viola is typical of the Island Terceira.

Its length is about 87 cm. The mouth usually has a circular opening. The scale is salient in relation to the top, and extends to above this mouth. The head is generally flat, slightly inclined with respect to the arm, and a rectangular shape, the pegs.



Generally, the sides are made of walnut, the top in Pine Flanders, the arm mahogany interiors in cone or poplar and scale in black wood.



The Terceira viola has 5 strings orders: the two most acute orders are doubles and are tuned in unison, the three most serious orders are threefold and are tuned in octave.



There is also the guitar 18 strings, with a seventh order of triple strings, tuned to the taste of the player.




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FADO GUITARS
The travel of the Cavaquinho