The accordionist and composer João Barra Bexiga died this Wednesday, aged 92, meaning that «the accordion in the Algarve has lost today one of its most emblematic performers», as Nuno Campos Inácio, author of the book, points out «The Accordion in the Algarve – A Century of Stories and Memories».
Born in Bordeira, parish of Santa Bárbara de Nexe, on October 9th, 1924, he was probably the Algarve accordionist with the most years of career, having started playing at just 5 years old, guided by his father, the accordionist João Bexiga, and inspired by other fellow accordionists, such as José Ferreiro (father) and his godfather António Madeirinha.
«He lived in Loulé, next door to the poet António Aleixo, who would influence João Barra Bexiga's composer activity, with more than two hundred songs, many of them currently performed by new generation accordionists in national and national competitions. international,” recalls Nuno Campos Inácio, in a post on his Facebook wall.
In 2008, João Barra Bexiga was honored, having published a book with his compositions.
«Physically deceased, he conquered historical immortality, appearing forever among the “giants” of the accordion», concludes researcher Nuno Campos Inácio.
Listen here João Barra Bexiga interpreting one of his compositions:
Journalist report Hugo Rodrigues, held in 2008, on the occasion of the tribute to João Barra Bexiga, published in the newspaper Barlavento:
«The man who turned beauty into music
João Barra Bexiga is one of the most renowned Portuguese accordionists and his work is being remembered. The highlight of the tribute will take place on November 29
His main inspiration, when composing music, was the «beautiful girls» and even today, at 84 years of age, the master João Barra Bexiga assumes him, with a roguish smile on his lips. The virtuoso accordionist from Bordeaux is being honored by the Parish Council of Santa Bárbara de Nexe, in a program of actions that will reach its peak on November 29, at Teatro das Figuras, in Faro.
The Grande Gala do Accordeão, which will bring together some of the best Portuguese accordionists and also musicians from abroad, will be a tribute to the hard work produced by João Barra Bexiga. Over the years, he recorded more than 200 songs, including others he composed, but which he ended up forgetting. «When we forget a song, it never comes back», revealed João Barra Bexiga.
In the heat of his home, the master agreed to share some memories with our newspaper. Among them, the time when he hit the road and embarked on the greatest artistic adventure of his life.
«I was at Estrela de Portugal for 2 months», he recalls. This project and others to which he belonged led him to spend long periods in Malveira, in the municipality of Sintra, and to travel in round the whole country. But this was a life that did not seduce him and that he ended up giving up. Your attachment to the Algarve will also have contributed.
«The longest period I spent without coming to the Algarve was four months and two days. I was here and I thought: that's where I'm fine. Then I was there and I just wanted to come here», he recalls, laughing. Therefore, he does not fail to remember that time with nostalgia. It was right there, next to Malveira, that he had one of his best nights.
«It was at the Sociedade do Pêro Negro, over Malveira. I had my hands in such a way that I've only had them two or three times in my life,” he said.
The artistic world did not seduce João Bexiga, who decided to change his life. He then became the first professional beekeeper in the municipality of Faro. «Loulé, Tavira and São Brás all came after me», he says, with pride. "I dedicated myself to bees from an early age, but only later became a professional," he added.
Despite not remembering everything, João Bexiga does not lower his arms and continues to show his philosopher's soul. «I don't have much memory anymore, I have new thoughts. Having intelligence is not the same as having a memory», he sentenced.
The glimmer of inspiration that can be seen in her eyes, moments before she delivers beautiful and profound quotes like this one, helps to understand her method of creation, simple and spontaneous.
«Master João Bexiga saw a beautiful girl, sat down for a while and composed music», illustrates Sérgio Martins, responsible for the tribute being paid to the master accordionist. “The great feature of Mestre João's songs is the left hand of the accordion, which he exploits like no one else,” he added.
Also because he learned almost everything he knows about music by himself. «I only went to Loulé to learn solfeggio. The music that cost me the most to learn so far was the Barber of Seville. It took me more than a month, but I learned», he recalled.
“I started playing with a borrowed accordion. There was a sharp corner, which left a bump on my wrist. I would pick it up from Loulé on Saturday and deliver it on Monday morning», he recalled.
Despite being self-taught, he was one of the most profuse creators of traditional Algarve music. There are more songs from his work than the master Zé Ferreiro Pai, the author of the famous Corridinho Algarve soul, with whom he played and deprived. Both this musician, for whom João Bexiga does not hide his admiration, and his son, with the same name, are equally from Bordeira. “If I hadn't been born in Bordeira, I wouldn't know how to play the accordion as I knew and know”, said, at one time, João Bexiga.
The more than 200 songs he composed and recorded will be gathered on a CD for scholars, which will be released accompanied by the respective scores. This is one of the actions that will be carried out within the scope of the tribute already underway.
At the same time, revealed Sérgio Martins, two CDs will be released for the general public, both originals by João Barra Bexiga. One compiles songs played by the author, the other is played by several guests, many of them present at the Gala on the 29th.
'Picadinho do Algarve', 'Estrela Cadente', 'Choro a Widow', 'When you love her', 'When I remember her', 'Recordações da Malveira' and 'Membrança de Torres Vedras' were just some of the themes that João Bexiga he recalled, in the conversation he had with our newspaper. Many songs by the Algarvian master were used by world champions in their winning repertoire. This is the case of the young Frenchman Guy Giuliano, who will be one of the accordionists who will be present at Teatro das Figuras.
Next Saturday, the third of the four initiatives that make up this tribute will take place. Sociedade Recreativa Bordeirense will receive a «Acordeão Night», guided by professor Hermenegildo Guerreiro, responsible for putting João Barra Bexiga's music on the agenda.
As for the Grand Gala on 29 November, it is rapidly reaching its sold out capacity and there are ticket reservations from various parts of the country and even abroad, revealed Sérgio Martins.
(in Barlavento, 20/11/2008)
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