Monument to the Cante Alentejano

Category: Civil Architecture > Monument

District: Beja > Cuba > Cuba > Estrada da Circunvalação

Location

The Monument to Cante Alentejano is located in the town of Cuba, specifically on Estrada da Circunvalação. It is integrated into Parque Manuel António de Castro, a green space that offers a serene environment, perfect for a peaceful break, surrounded by the characteristic landscape of the region. Its position in the village allows for easy discovery for those exploring Cuba.

The Tribute Sculpture

This work, inaugurated in 2008, is a visual tribute to Cante Alentejano, the expressive musical manifestation of the region. Designed by sculptor Antonio Carrilho, the central piece represents a choral group, materialized in Corten steel. The material, with its earthy tone and robust texture, harmonizes with the Alentejo landscape and tradition, giving the sculpture a striking and evocative presence.

The Cultural Legacy of Cante

The monument celebrates Cante Alentejano, a traditional musical genre typically sung by amateur choral groups, without instrumental accompaniment. This practice has its deep roots in rural labor, in the agricultural tasks that, before mechanization, filled the days of Alentejo workers. It was through singing that people relieved the burden of effort, shared feelings, and shaped a unique culture, a result of various influences that converged in the south of the country.

The vastness of the Alentejo plain is the primary setting for cante, where the human voice rises in union with the sounds of the earth and the whisper of the wind. The monument is dedicated to the "Men of the Cante Lands," bearers of an ancestral musical knowledge that perpetuates through time. It symbolizes a link between the past and the future of the rural world and this form of cultural expression, recognized worldwide for its importance.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt