Jotamont
Jotamont | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jorge Fernandes Monteiro 1 October 1912 At sea, Atlantic Ocean (off Cape Verde) |
| Died | 21 November 1998 (aged 86) |
| Genres | Morna, Coladeira |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
| Instrument(s) | Trumpet, vocals |
| Years active | 1940s–1990s |
Jotamont (born Jorge Fernandes Monteiro; 1 October 1912 – 21 November 1998) was a Cape Verdean musician, trumpeter, and composer. He is regarded as one of the most significant figures in 20th-century morna and coladeira, helping to modernize Cape Verde’s traditional music for orchestral and concert settings.[1][2]
Biography
[edit]Jotamont was born on a boat en route to the United States, as his parents emigrated in search of better living conditions.[3] He grew up in Mindelo, on the island of São Vicente, and studied at the Liceu Gil Eanes. Later, he attended a music conservatory in Lisbon, where he studied trumpet and music theory. He became a skilled performer and arranger, blending classical European techniques with Cape Verdean melodies and rhythms.
Works
[edit]Jotamont composed numerous mornas and coladeiras, often celebrating the culture and landscapes of Cape Verde. Some of his best-known works include:
- São Cente ("Saint Vincent")
- Mindelo nha terra ("Mindelo, My Land")
- Nha terra bô ca tá imaginá
- Fidjo Magoado
- Êsse ê quê Mindelo nôs querido cantim
- Dez grãozinhos de terra
- Lolinha
- Nôs Mãe
- Engenheiro humano (Baptista de Sousa)
Publications
[edit]Jotamont also published several collections of sheet music for Cape Verdean songs, including:
- Música Caboverdeana – Mornas for the Piano (1987)
- Mornas e Contra-Tempos – Coladeiras from Cabo Verde (1987)
- Músicas de Cabo Verde – Mornas from Eugénio Tavares (1987)
- Música Caboverdeana – Mornas from Francisco Xavier da Cruz (1987)
Legacy
[edit]Jotamont’s compositions have been performed and recorded by many Cape Verdean artists, including Cesária Évora, Bana, and Tito Paris. His work remains a cornerstone of Cape Verdean musical identity and continues to influence modern interpretations of morna and coladeira.[2]
External links
[edit]- "Jotamont: About the life of music" – A Semana (in Portuguese)
- Jotamont discography at Discogs
References
[edit]- ^ Ferreira, Manuel (2006). Literatura e música de Cabo Verde (in Portuguese). Lisbon: Lisboa Editora.
- ^ a b Lobban, Richard A. (2018). Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Cape Verde (3rd ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781538113356.
- ^ Ferro, José (2015). Música de Cabo Verde: História e Cultura (in Portuguese). Praia: Praia Cultural Foundation.