Ningue Ningue – No Paço e no Terreiro (Ningue Ningue, 2022)
“No Paço e no Terreiro” is the second album by Ningue Ningue, a Portuguese duo featuring César Prata and Maria Isabel Mendonça. “No Paço e no Terreiro” includes fascinating texts and songs by D. Dinis, D. Alfonso X (Spanish King Alfonso the Wise) and Pêro Garcia as well as anonymous composers of the 13th through the 17th centuries collected by Ningue Ningue.
The ancient songs and lyrics from Portugal and current day Spain appear with delightful arrangements by César Prata and Maria Isabel Mendonça, who skillfully intertwine traditional folk music and European Early music along with chamber and modern influences using a mix of Portuguese musical instruments and devices from other traditions.
Ningue Ningue intentionally brought together songs and texts from folk oral tradition and erudite musical composers. The duo indicates that songs in Romance languages circulated in the Iberian Peninsula and were freely transformed and adapted to different circumstances, such as liturgical rituals, theater plays, celebrations and aristocratic circles. These premises and the sound environment provided by the selected instruments led to the release of “No Paço e no Terreiro”.
The lineup includes César Prata on bandolim, bouzouki, guitalele, guitar, mandoguitar, laptop, metalofone, inuk steel and vocals; Maria Isabel Mendonça on violin and vocals. Guests: Ana Sofia Matos on clarinet; Ariel Ninas on sanfona (hurdy gurdy); Catarina Moura on vocals; João Martins on sanfona; Luís Pedro Madeira on guitar, bass, bandolim, braguesa; Quiné Teles on percussion; Sara Vidal on Celtic harp; and Tiago Sami Pereira on percussion.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.