12 Modas Mirandesas i Lhaços / Mirandese songs and “lhaços”

The Mirandese language is well-known outside of Miranda thanks to folk and popular music. Many of the songs that people recognise as “traditional songs from Miranda” are in Mirandese (although many are in fact variations of songs that can be also be heard in other parts of the Iberian Peninsula). Some remarkable examples are: Senhor Galandun, Tengo Giribolas, La Çarandilheira, Mira-me Miguel, Burgalesa, and more.

Some folk music bands from the Land of Miranda sing their lyrics in Mirandese, either because the lyrics were traditionally in Mirandese or because the musicians chose to write them in the language. The most popular bands are Galandum Galundaina, Trasga, Çarandas and Pica Tumilho.

It’s also important to mention the significance of Mirandese in the “lhaços”. The Dancers (Dançadores in Mirandese) are the greatest expression of Mirandese folklore and their musical pieces are called “lhaços”, regardless of whether they have lyrics or not. And when they do, they can be in Portuguese, Spanish or Mirandese. Some famous lhaços are Ls Oufícios, Campanitas de Toledo and La Lhiebre.