Portugues song recordings

[Janet Carminati]

Hello all,

Linda posted this song over the holidays and I wanted to let this group know that my Aunt Elsie (Elzira Silva) is featured in this group.  I grew up with my aunt (she was my favorite babysitter) and she was a wonderful pianist but never mentioned these recordings!  Her parents were both from Faial and came to the US ending up in Oakland CA where they settled.

Does anyone have any other information as I would like to learn more or see if others are related to any of the other performers.  Apparently there were several other recordings as well.  

A Portuguese Christmas song, Oakland 1939: 
https://www.loc.gov/item/2017701593/?loclr=fbafc&fbclid=IwAR0B9xS2tW1pJvVfiGozh0PHPZOtWMD6VDGxbCyo6A4zKJceygz8mBuUp1E 

Thanks very much,

Janet

[Steve Peters]

Here is a link to all of the Azorean folk recordings made by Sydney Cowell. She was the wife of the important composer Henry Cowell.

https://www.loc.gov/search/?fa=subject%3Asongs%2C+portuguese

[linda]

Hi Janet,

I'm absolutely delighted that you found your Aunt in the link I posted!

The link originally showed up in my FaceBook Feed, so I thought I'd share it to this google group.  In the back of my mind I wondered if anyone here might be related to the musicians, but I never seriously thought someone would make such a close connection-- so glad it did!!  Here's what the FB post looked like in my feed:

Thanks Steve, for the link to the Azorean folk recordings in the collection!  I've saved it and shared it too.

I have a little time today, so I thought I'd follow up on providing a little more info on the folk recording collection.

Background info on Sidney Robertson Cowell and her WPA music project:  https://www.loc.gov/collections/sidney-robertson-cowell-northern-california-folk-music/articles-and-essays/the-ethnographic-experience-sidney-robertson-cowell-in-northern-california/

a photo of Sidney in her project office: https://www.loc.gov/item/2017701346/

Because the FaceBook post included a cropped photo, I hoped that the larger image might also include Janet's aunt Elsie.  Unfortunately, it didn't, but here are photos of some of the other Portuguese participants in the project and their instruments:

Alice Lemos Avila with Olive and Joachim Flores and Frank Cunha, group portrait: https://www.loc.gov/item/2017701293/

Mr. Franks [Clifford Franco?], Manuel Lemos and Alberto Mendes: https://www.loc.gov/item/2017701166/

two guitars: https://www.loc.gov/item/2017701294/

Happy New Year everyone!

:)

Linda