Martinho da Assuncao; Guitarist

Martinho da Assuncao, 78, considered to be among the world’s finest guitar players in accompanying fados, a type of Portuguese song. Da Assuncao’s original ambition was to be a concert player and, by 26, he had composed more than 100 pieces. But his aptitude for the fado led him to dedicate himself to that form. Fado singing is often accompanied by a 12-string, heart-shaped guitar and a six-string classical guitar. The songs are laments of nostalgia and love. Da Assuncao accompanied such top fado singers as Amalia Rodrigues and Alfredo Marceneiro in Portugal and abroad. In Lisbon on March 29 of the complications of pneumonia.