O Vitinho

“O Vitinho” is not only one of the most beautiful Portuguese marches, it rather constitutes a new type of that musical genre that has been virtually unknown in Central Europe that far. An abundance of melodious ideas and its complete lack of aggressiveness stand for the cheerful serenity of Portugal.

Its composer, Francisco Marques Neto, is well known for a number of pieces for band, as his rhapsodies and marches are still popular in Portugal today. His feeling for orchestral colors should not astonish anybody, as he studied music in Porto, and after that he joined the ranks of the local Banda da Guarda Nacional Republicana as a clarinet virtuoso. In addition he was instrumental as director of amateur bands in the north of Portugal and consequently influenced the development of wind music in this area of his native country.