When we think of instrumental Brazilian music we can certainly go back in time with the introduction of African instruments and the polyphonic rhythms and melodies that were brought to Brazil during the slave trade in the early 1500’s. The African religious songs and the religious syncretism that prevails throughout our history as well as the enduring presence of rhythms and African rituals, contributed to the development of music and dance such as Jongo, Lundu, Maxixe, the instrumental choro and samba.
During the colonial times, 1500 – 1812, Christian Church music was very influential in the formation of Brazilian music. It was the basis of future orchestral works and Brazilian Baroque music. The compositions of Padre José Mauricio Nunes Garcia are a good example of ecclesiastic music of Brazil. Padre José Mauricio Nunes Garcia, the son of African slaves, is the first of the great Brazilian composers of this time. The music of late 1800 in Rio de Janeiro was marked by the choros of Ernesto Nazareth, Chiquinha Gonzaga, and later Pixinguinha’s. Samba emerges in the early 1900’s. Donga – Ernesto dos Santos and Mauro de Almeida have the samba “Pelo Telefone” copyrighted and recorded in 1916. It was composed at the Casa da Tia Ciata or “Aunt Ciata’s Home,” which was a musicians meeting place in downtown Rio de Janeiro.
Choro, a style of music genre developed in Rio de Janeiro at the end of the 1800’s beginning of the 1900’s, also plays an essential role in Brazilian music as a whole, particularly in Brazilian instrumental music. Choro is the blending of afro-Brazilian rhythms, especially Lundú and European styles of music such as waltz, polka, schottische, and mazurka.
Painting by Portinari
Choro has survived the times, and it is very much present in Brazilian music still today.
Musicians who created Bossa Nova such as Antonio Carlos Jobim have used choro in his Bossa Nova songs. Listen to “Chega de Saudade” (No More Blues); its introduction is a good example of a choro used in Bossa Nova.
The instrumental Bossa Nova with its sophisticated harmony, rhythm syncopation and seducing melodies is a result of the fusion of samba, instrumental music, classical music, and jazz. There would not be Bossa Nova without the existence of Samba and choro.
Choro has also inspired the foremost Brazilian classical composer Heitor Villa-Lobos who wrote his “Choro Series.”
The music of chorões provided the initial inspiration for his Villa-Lobos choros, a series of compositions written between 1920 and 1929. The first European performance of Choros No. 10 in Paris caused a storm!
It’s impressive how Bossa Nova has been present in American Jazz and how the West Coast Cool Jazz has been part of Bossa Nova. Every musician I met and interviewed in the past years mention jazz and how inspiring that has been to them. Samba, Bossa Nova, Choro and Jazz have the same musical DNA – similar musical roots. When we listen to early jazz, ragtime the compositions of American composers such as Jelly Roll Morton, Scott Joplin and the Brazilians Chiquinha Gonzaga, Ernesto Nazareth and Pixinguinha we find similar musical elements. Choro precedes jazz and both genres were evolving independently like two brothers and sisters from the same parents being raised in two different countries and a chance to keeping their original traditions.
We have a chance to experience all of this live this coming June 27 at 6:30 pm.
It’s the Brazilian Music Get Together!
Seating is limited – It’s FREE with RSVP – Brazilian Music Get Together at The Consulate, Los Angeles
June 27, 2017 at 6:30pm
Join us for an exciting evening featuring the instrumental trio formed by Sandro Rebel on keyboards, José Bruno Eisenberg on drums, and José Marino on bass and the sounds of choro, samba, bossa nova and Brazilian jazz.
Also, enjoy an art installation and performance show “Roots & Patisserie” by Cheila Ferlin from Brazil and a few words on the different musical periods by Brazilian Hour Radio host Sergio Mielniczenko.
Airto Moreira
Our honoree for this evening is world-renown Brazilian percussionist Airto Moreira. Among his endless contributions to music, he is known for his works with luminaries such as Miles Davis, Joe Zawinul, the jazz fusion of Weather Report, numerous releases with his wife, Flora Purim, and Chick Corea’s Return to Forever. Airto’s composition, “Tombo” has been one of the most sampled and influential songs for many contemporary artists, and his contributions in film include the award winning films, Apocalypse Now, and Last Tango In Paris. He has been voted number one percussionist in Down Beat Magazine’s Critics Poll for the years 1975 through 1983 and most recently in 1993. For his immeasurable contributions to Brazilian Music internationally, he and his wife Flora Purim were awarded the “Order of Rio Branco,” one of the highest honors bestowed by the Brazilian Government. Join us in celebrating his life in music!
Time: 6:30pm
Brazilian Consulate, Los Angeles
8484 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 300
Beverly Hills, CA., 90211
RSVP: [email protected]
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