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Joaquim Matias

HISTORY OF RANCHO FOLCLÓRICO DE FORTIOS

Fortios is a small rural village situated at the base of a hill called Mata Amores on the edge of the mountains of São Mamede, it is about 8 Kilometres Northwest of Portalegre which is the capital of this region of North Alentejo.
The Fortios Folk Group is today the main link between the ethnic culture and traditional folk music in this area of North Alentejo. The repertoir of the group consists of Ring Dances and the Dances of the Saias which are typical of this region.
The group was founded in 1981. Later in 1984 after exhaustive research, interviewing all of the older people of the village about the lifestyles and clothing of there ancestors we started to construct traditional costumes. The costumes in the main part are traditional working clothes, as worn by the farm manager, the shepherd, the harvester, the agricultural worker and the olive picker, also shown are the Sunday clothes used for special events and holidays by rich and poor alike, and finally the costumes of the bride and groom.
Our group has been a dignified representative of the Northeast Alentejo,s folklore wherever they have participated. We have been present at a wide variety of Folk Festivals throughout all of Portugal, the Azores and Madeira. Abroad we have represented our country in the festivals of Caceres, Olivenca, Salamanca and Torrejocilho, all in Spain.
In 1992 we took part in Expo 92 in Seville and later in the year travelled to perform in Georgia which was part of the ex. Soviet Union.
In 1993 the group took part in a programme made by Italian television RAIUNO to celebrate the European Federation for Historic Heritage.
In 1998 our group recorded a video and a CD-ROM and took part in Expo 98 in Lisbon. During this year we travelled to Stutgart Germany to take part in a competition.
In 2000 our group represented Portugal in a competition in Barcelona and also travelled to Hanover to attend Expo 2000.
In 2004, we participated in the 14th Ismailia International Folk. Fest. Aug. 24th to 31st ‏2004.
In 2007, we participated in the Bosra International Folklore Festival in Siria.
The Fortios Folk Group has recorded 2 music cassettes and in 2001 recorded a CD called “Balho de Saias”.
We are members of the Portuguese Folk Music Confederation and founders of the Folk Music Association of Alto Alentejo which is registered with INATEL.
Our group has no Art Director or a Coreographer. Neither our dances nor our instrumental arrangements obey any specific pattern, they are just the product of what we have been told by the older ones in the village as well as our performances are, then, authentic and genuine; they mirror the actual songs and dances in the late 19th century.
All the members of the group are volunteers, regarding this activity as a hobby and a way of keeping old traditions alive.