"The Madeiran Machete on the XIXth century" is the fourth Volume of the Madeira Music Collection. In the first three numbers musical works of Madeira were recovered, from various areas: the religious symphonies played on the sacred ceremonies; the nineteenth-century orchestral dances of Funchal; the piano music composed in Madeira between 1810 and 1955.
This fourth volume is a special edition for several reasons. Firstly, the Historical Research is coordinated by Dr. Manuel Morais, Portuguese expert in the field of strings instruments. Secondly, musical repertoire disclosed herein is extremely rare, and its recovery is not only a contribution to the History of Music in Madeira but also to the History of Western Music. Thirdly, this CD contains participations of some young students with great talent from the Coordinator Office of Artistic Education, thus combining the musical past to our youth.
The Madeiran Machete is an instrument whose appearance is misleading. Its small size and fragile appearance conceal a great potential, which can be easily noted after a first hearing of the composite for this instrument in the nineteenth century which are now available to all.

Paulo Esteireiro
Coordinator of the Madeira Music Collection