There are instruments that produce music, and there are instruments that preserve memory. The Viola da Terra, with its distinctive strings and unmistakable sound, belongs firmly to the latter. For centuries, it has accompanied the rhythms of everyday life in the Azores, giving voice to serenades, folk traditions, religious festivities, and generations of musicians who transformed a simple stringed instrument into one of the strongest symbols of Azorean cultural identity.
On August 2, that tradition will once again take center stage as the Casa do Povo de São Mateus, on Pico Island, hosts “Violas dos Açores,” a free concert celebrating the richness and diversity of the archipelago’s unique musical heritage.
Beginning at 9:00 p.m., the performance will bring together three of the Azores’ foremost ambassadors of the Viola: Bruno Bettencourt, representing Terceira; Orlando Martins, from Pico; and Rafael Carvalho, from São Miguel. Each musician has dedicated years to preserving, performing, and promoting the instrument both within the islands and beyond, making the evening not simply a concert but a celebration of one of the Region’s most enduring cultural traditions.
The first half of the performance will highlight the remarkable diversity that exists within the Azorean Viola tradition itself.
Each musician will present the instrument individually, demonstrating the distinctive tonal qualities and expressive possibilities created by different traditional playing techniques. Audiences will hear the delicate articulation achieved with the index finger, the rhythmic energy of the rasgado style, and the rich resonance produced through thumb-playing—approaches that have evolved across different islands while remaining united by a common musical heritage.
The concert will also showcase both principal forms of the instrument: the twelve-string and the fifteen-string Viola, allowing listeners to appreciate the subtle differences in sound and character that distinguish these cherished variations.
As the performance progresses, the three musicians will come together to perform traditional melodies, illustrating how these different techniques and instruments complement one another. Rather than presenting separate musical traditions, the concert reveals the remarkable unity that emerges from the diversity of the Azorean Viola, where regional styles blend into a shared cultural language.
The evening’s second half introduces another deeply symbolic dimension by celebrating the transmission of musical tradition across generations.
Joining the featured performers will be two musicians from the parish of São Mateus: Manuel Eduíno Bettencourt, performing on the mandolin, and his grandson Santiago Batista, playing the Viola da Terra.
Their appearance together represents far more than a guest performance.
It serves as a tribute to Manuel Eduíno Bettencourt’s longstanding contribution to the musical life of the community while simultaneously recognizing the promise, dedication, and talent of the young Santiago Batista. Their shared presence on stage becomes a powerful reminder that cultural traditions survive not only through preservation but through renewal, as each generation embraces the responsibility of carrying inherited music into the future.
This dialogue between experience and youth lies at the heart of the Violas dos Açores project.
By honoring veteran musicians while encouraging emerging performers, the initiative demonstrates that the Viola remains a living tradition—one that continues to evolve without losing its historical roots. The concert celebrates not merely an instrument, but the community of artists who ensure its continued relevance in contemporary Azorean culture.
Produced by the Associação de Juventude Viola da Terra in partnership with the Casa do Povo de São Mateus, the event forms part of the 2026 Viola da Terra Season and the festivities honoring Senhor Bom Jesus Milagroso. It reflects a broader commitment to safeguarding the islands’ intangible cultural heritage through performance, education, and community engagement.
In an age when many traditional musical expressions face increasing pressure from globalization and rapidly changing cultural tastes, evenings such as this reaffirm the enduring place of the Viola da Terra in the identity of the Azores. Every melody, every chord, and every variation in technique tells a story shaped by the islands themselves—by volcanic landscapes, rural communities, Atlantic winds, and generations of musicians whose hands have preserved these sounds through centuries.
Ultimately, Violas dos Açores is more than a concert. It is a gathering where music becomes memory, heritage becomes performance, and the distinctive voice of the Azorean Viola continues to resonate across the Atlantic, reminding audiences that the strongest traditions are those that continue to inspire new generations while remaining faithful to their origins.
Based on a press release. Photos from – Associação de Juventude Viola da Terra