Samuel Pascoal

Campinos Scalabitanos

Horses and bulls have transformed the landscape and culture of Ribatejo (Portugal) and created the natural character of the Campino, guardian of the flatlands and the animals that roam. It is, no doubt, one of the most typical characteristics of Santarem, Ribatejo. Campinos Scalabitanos is a pasodoble which pays a tribute to this tradition. It starts with impressive and colourful chords suggesting the bulls and then comes a gentle melody with a totally different character. A Campino on horseback watches the cattle and suddenly a bull runs away, but the Campino drives it back to the herd. The paso doble concludes with a Portuguese march with taurine music characteristics turning Campinos Scalabitanos into typical Portuguese bullfighting music.