Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Music of Brazil
The vibrant music of Brazil reflects the diversity of the
cultural and ethnic backgrounds that make up the
country's resident population. The music mirrors the
influences of both the native and immigrant population.
The rhythms of Africa are as important to the overall
sound as the harmonies and melodies that were
introduced from Europe. Brazil is not about one
musical style, but a varied selection. Internationally,
samba
and
bossa nova
are the best-known of the
country's musical styles, but regional forms, such as
frevo
(see p217)
,
axé
,
forró (see p236)
,
and
sertanejo
(see p233)
, are just as popular within Brazil.
Heitor Villa-Lobos, one of Brazil's
greatest classical composers
SAMBA
Derived from Angolan religious
rhythms,
samba
has permeated
virtually every other Brazilian musical
form that followed it. Historically
strong in Rio, São Paulo, and Bahia,
samba
made a remarkable impact
throughout the country in the 1930s.
Samba
comes in many forms, and
most of these have a link to dance.
Zeca Pagodinho
, who
emerged in the late
1980s, is one of the
most popular and best-
selling artists of a new
wave of
samba
stars.
Gilberto Gil
went from
political exile to
Brazilian superstar
before becoming
Minister of Culture in
2003. He remains an
active musical force.
Clara Nunes
was
one of the most
prolific and popular
samba
singers
of all time. Her career was
tragically cut short when she died
at the age of 39 in 1982.
BOSSA NOVA
Bossa nova
, a marriage of Brazilian rhythms and American jazz,
has been the most exportable form of Brazilian music since
international audiences first discovered it through an album,
Getz/Gilberto,
recorded by Stan Getz and João Gilberto in 1964.
The album included a number of compositions from a young
and unknown composer from Rio, Antônio Carlos (“Tom”) Jobim.
Gilberto, Jobim, and Jobim's lyricist, Vinícius de Moraes, were
to become the “Holy Trinity” of
bossa nova
.
Sergio Mendes
and
his group, Brasil '66,
helped launch
bossa
nova
globally in the
1960s. They have rec-
orded with acts such
as Black Eyed Peas,
Erykah Badu, and
Justin Timberlake.
Antônio Carlos Jobim
was
responsible for many of
the
bossa nova
classics
including “The Girl From
Ipanema,” one of the most
played and recorded songs
in popular music history.
