Azorean musician Rafael Carvalho has released a new music video for Sentinelas (“Sentinels”), a composition that reflects both his artistic journey and his long-standing commitment to the preservation and renewal of the Viola da Terra, the iconic two-hearted guitar of the Azores.
The piece is included in 10 Anos de Origens (10 Years of Origins), a commemorative album marking a decade of Carvalho’s dedication to composition, performance, teaching, and cultural promotion through the Viola da Terra. Although Sentinelas first appeared on the 2021 album Cordas do Mundo (Strings of the World), it was later incorporated into the special anniversary edition released in 2022.
More than simply a music video, Sentinelas serves as a visual and emotional retrospective of a remarkable artistic path. The images featured in the production are drawn from the documentary 10 Anos de Origens, included on the DVD accompanying the physical edition of the album. The documentary traces Carvalho’s personal and musical journey, from his childhood in Ribeira Quente on the island of São Miguel to his work as one of the most visible contemporary ambassadors of the Viola da Terra.
Produced by Palco de Ilusões – Produções Audiovisuais e Multimédia, the documentary combines personal testimony, archival memories, original compositions, and performance footage to tell the story of an artist deeply rooted in Azorean culture while continuously seeking new possibilities for the traditional instrument.
In Sentinelas, music and imagery come together to celebrate that decade-long journey. Sweeping landscapes, moments of reflection, and scenes drawn from the documentary create a visual narrative that mirrors Carvalho’s artistic evolution and his connection to the islands that inspire his work.
The release also highlights the vitality of contemporary Azorean cultural production. While firmly anchored in tradition, the video demonstrates how artists continue to reinterpret and expand the cultural language of the archipelago for new generations.
Since 2012, Rafael Carvalho has composed and released more than forty original works for the Viola da Terra. His goal has been not only to explore new musical possibilities for the instrument but also to expand its repertoire for students, teachers, conservatories, and the growing network of Viola da Terra schools throughout the Azores.
In doing so, Carvalho has helped ensure that the instrument remains a living and evolving part of Azorean culture rather than simply a symbol of the past.
The new music video stands as another chapter in that ongoing mission—a celebration of identity, creativity, and cultural continuity through one of the most distinctive musical voices of the Azores.
Sentinelas became available on YouTube through the Palco de Ilusões channel, offering audiences an opportunity to experience a work that blends memory, landscape, and music into a tribute to ten years of artistic dedication and cultural stewardship.
Translated and adapted from a Press Release. Photos from Press Release. Video also from the Press Release.
