MIGUEL GIRÃO

He is a graduate of Lisbon's École Supérieure de Musique. He was introduced to traditional music in high school by Pedro Queiroz Martinho, a violinist who awakened his interest in this musical style. Since then, Miguel's interest in traditional music has continued to grow. He is currently studying traditional music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Thanks to his experience in teaching, performing, composing and recording, he has established himself on the traditional Irish music scene in Portugal, and has performed in various groups.
Prologue is his first solo album, on which he offers five traditional pieces and two of his own compositions, all combining to give us a wide range of traditional music and its interactions from one country to another.
Born in Portugal, Miguel has embraced the musical traditions of many countries, including Ireland and the United States. And these diverse influences can be heard throughout the tracks.

As well as being a guitar pro, Miguel also sings. For example, on the opening track The Snows They Melt the Soonest, borrowed from the repertoire of Scottish folk singer Kris Drever. Or Derwentwater's Farewell, a Northumbrian song evoking the Jacobite revolt of 1715.
With Polegnala & Todora, Miguel turns to Bulgaria. Then comes Queen of the Earth, a traditional Virginia tune learned from John Doyle. More original is the lullaby Dorme, Dorme meu Menino, sung to him as a child by his mother.
Two tracks are by Miguel himself, The Restless Will and Meet Us Where the Party Is/ The Watchmaker Jig, dedicated to his friends Marco and Bruno Fonseca, who also feature on the album (fiddle and flute) alongside Marco Silva (mandolin) and Andrés Fuzeiro (bodhrán).
A delicate album with an ethereal atmosphere. A little gentleness in this world of brutes. The only negative point is the brevity of the album.

Autoproduit - www.miguelvzgirao.com