The group Quarto Crescente & Amigos will perform for the first time in Terceira at a concert at the Angrense Theater on December 20. How did this group come about, and what kind of music does it perform?

Quarto Crescente is nothing more or less than the name given to four friends who got together several times to play for various artists (Evandro Meneses, Delmindo Marco Meneses, André Coelho, and José Sousa). When musicians were needed to accompany an artist, this was the first option they considered. As time went by, and as musical moments became more frequent, we came up with the idea of giving this quartet a name, as it was always the same for the various concerts we played. So, a poll was set up on Facebook so that our friends could suggest names for the quartet, and “Quarto Crescente” was suggested by our friend and music producer Emiliano Toste. Recently, and with the desire to sing and play Azorean popular music, which was part of my childhood and musical growth, I invited three friends to join the quartet so that we could offer the public a gap that currently existed in Terceira: groups exclusively playing Azorean popular music. I grew up listening to Tributo da Ilha de São Jorge, Alma Popular (who, curiously enough, will return to the stage), all the Azorean singers on the illustrious CD “7 anos de música”, among other groups who limited themselves to interpreting and creating the most genuine Azorean music possible. In fact, the first songs I wrote as a teenager had this popular and Azorean content, songs that are now part of our repertoire. That’s why our friends Tibério Carreiro, Paulo Rosa, and Delmindo Meneses joined Quarto Crescente to perform these songs and other covers of Azorean popular music.

What are the expectations for this first concert in this new version of the group, which now has more members?

Our expectations are as high as our concern to give the audience a good show. We’re looking forward to taking to the stage with this project because it’s one where we feel at home. More than offering the people of Terceira just another concert, we’d like to give them a chance to make this group a little bit of all of us (Azoreans), something that represents our genesis as Azorean people. We were immensely shocked and grateful to learn that on the second day of sales, the Teatro Angrense’s central audience was almost sold out, a phenomenon that, unfortunately, is becoming increasingly difficult these days, especially with local bands. This is not a reason to be proud but rather an incentive for the whole group to work harder and develop the skills needed to offer their best. The group’s debut will also be the perfect occasion to launch our CD entitled “Mandei Minh’Alma ir à Fonte,” with six originals and six covers of our popular/traditional music.

This group debuted on a tour of the United States in 2022. How was the experience?

The experience was great. We debuted the group in Pawtucket and Lowell, with five concerts in two weeks, still only as a quartet and instrumental. However, our traditional modas were present as well as other songs that demonstrated the versatility of our traditional instrument, the Viola da Terra. Quarto Crescente was happily performed in the United States. Although it was the quartet’s debut, it was an occasion that perhaps marked the transition of this group, which had been on hiatus for two years due to other projects they were each developing. The desire remained, and we thought about creating the Quarto Crescente. However, we thought we’d go ahead late in the island’s festival calendar, so the idea didn’t take shape until mid-July this year. The festivities already had commitments with artists. We managed to get a date in April 2025 for our first off-island concert with Tributo in São Jorge. After this motivation, we began rehearsals until the Angra do Heroísmo City Council invited us to make our debut in December. From then on, we began to promote our work. Looking back, we can see that it was a project we threw ourselves into headfirst to bring our idea for this group to fruition as quickly and with as much support as possible. I believe this will be successfully realized with the premiere in a well-stocked hall and the first record to be released in 2024. And with five concerts already scheduled for 2025.

The first music video, “Mandei Minh’Alma ir à Fonte,” is already circulating on the Internet. How has it been received by the public?

The public’s reception has been very positive. Our intention with the music video was to be simple and introduce the group so it promotes what you’ll see on stage. As such, the video clip was nothing more than a lively stroll that the group took around the central area of Terceira Island. Without any idea of what it would be like or ‘repérage,’ we all set off together in search of the best place to record on a cloudy day that was threatening rain. We found that it was the best day to choose because of the view we got of the source of Lagoa das Patas.

Is original music in good health in the Azores? Do audiences appreciate the new groups?

Original music is, in fact, in excellent health, and I think this is or should be, the natural course for any artist. As a music producer at Ramo Grande Studio, I prefer to promote each artist’s original music without detracting from some great cover songs. As for the public’s love of new groups, I feel that they don’t do it for the novelty but for what they like. Let’s just say that perhaps they don’t have an open mind about leaving the house to see a show and are not sure what it will be. More and more audiences are leaving their comfort zone just to see and hear what they are sure they will like. I can only advise everyone reading this interview that, more than any ‘cachet’ an artist might receive, playing a concert in an empty room is not the most rewarding feeling. On the other hand, attending a concert with the thought that you’re doing the artist a favor isn’t the most dignified act for a spectator either. All of this is part of our identity, culture, and way of being in society. It’s part of our cultural, educational, and musical wealth. Music is part of our experience, so we need it to breathe in the emotions it conveys. So get out of the house, go to concerts, the theater, the cinema, and

From Diário Insular, José Lourenço-director.

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