Terra a Terra

Terra a Terra were a Portuguese musical group with a traditional repertoire. Its activity extended from 1977 to 1984.

Formed in 1977, at the time under the name “Terra Sem Amos”, Terra a Terra belong to the gallery of different groups that have dedicated themselves or are dedicated to the heterodox stylization of Portuguese music of oral tradition.

The initial formation records the LP Dançado e Pulirando, which includes themes from different geographical origins (Alentejo, Beira Baixa, Trás-os-Montes, etc.), with the collections being made by the group and by several people, including highlight those made in Baixo Alentejo by Heduíno Gomes, husband of singer Ana Faria, known for having been the general secretary of the PCP(m-l) in the hot years of the Revolution and today being a member of the PSD. This album contains songs such as “Pingacho”, “Não Se Me Dá Que Vindimem” or “Diabos Levem Os Ratos”. Although it is an important album, it is not without some shortcomings, when compared to works by other groups such as Brigada Victor Jara or Vai de Roda.

The group’s second work, published in 1981, is already more mature. The group was evolving and leaving behind some of the limitations that were noted in their first work. The formation undergoes changes with the entry of new members (there are now 17 members), including Artur Pereira, who is from the Guarda District, more specifically from Soito (Sabugal). As a guest, playing guitar, Silvestre Fonseca, born in Famalicão de Serra, participates. Entitled Pelo Toque da Viola, the work features songs from almost the entire country, recreated by the group. It features themes such as “Pelo Toque da Viola”, “Chula Rabela”, “Tirana Atira” or “O Rapaz do Casaquito”.

After a series of “mistakes” were undone, in the words of Jaime Ferreira; the band moves away from some initial naivety and declares that it is not a collection group, but rather a group that uses the music already collected to do what its sensitivity demands.

The group starts from collections by César Neves and Gualdino Campos, in addition to Fernando Lopes-Graça, Michel Giacometti and Margot Dias and releases the LP Estilhaços, in 1983.

On this album, with the line-up reduced to 10 elements, you can find true pearls of traditional music, such as “Fui-te ver, estás lavando”, “Festas de Campo Maior”, “Corridinho” or a theme written by Mário Piçarra called “Stained Glass”.

From the cover to the content, Terra a Terra began to belong to the vanguard of groups dedicated to recreating, with quality, oral tradition music.

One last work by the group, with the title Lá Vai Jeremias, would still be released, but the group would no longer continue and with its end, a lot of Portuguese music was lost.

The group’s original albums were all reissued on CD by Universal Music and Movieplay Portuguesa.