Brazil has many different types of music. Sambas that range in many different styles of music and dances along with them, capoeira, frevo, and many, many more. Here are a few that are well known and popular in Brazil.
Types of Music
Capoeira
In this style of music, the music sets the tempo, rhythm, type of playing, volume, and the energy.
Being able to understand songs in capoeira assists in retrieving historical context from early Brazilian history and life. Capoeira music acts as a guide and a teacher.
Frevo
Frevo music is played during carnivals, as it is fast paced and fun. Instruments that are included for playing this style of music include mostly brass instruments, typically the trombone, tuba, trumpet and the saxophone. This style of music is constantly mistaken as polka music.
Forró
Forro music includes many different styles of music. Usually, the musical style is based on a combination of an accordian (with a more dry tuning, compared to tunes in Europe), and a rhythm section of a zabumba and a triangle (triangle keeps the pulse in a consistent pattern of 4/4 while accentuating the third beat, and the zabumba is responsible for different rhythms).
Luiz Gonzaga first established these instruments to be the base of forro music. However, other instruments are commonly used, such as the fiddle, flute, bass, cavaquinho, acoustic guitar, the rabeca, and the pandeiro.
Samba
Samba happens to be among with the most popular music genres in Brazil (and quite a popular dance, as well!), and is commonly recognized as the countries national musical style. This fun style of music has traces to Africa, but was also popular in Rio due to the mixture of cultures and rhythms that allowed many different styles of the music to be produced.
This style of music became more well known in the beginning of the 20th century for it's catchy and distinguishable sound. It was first popularized from the immigrants of Bahia. Samba schools for dance and music were set up in the communities to try and incorporate the music into the local culture. The schools were most commonly run by samba dancers and performers.
'Pelo Telefone' was the first samba recording, which was released in 1917 by Mauro and Donga Almeida, which was a huge success. This brought the music out into the community for the local people. The exact history of the samba is yet to be determined, yet many historians believe that a group of musicians from Tia Ciata had formed the style.
Samba music, through the years, has developed into many different forms and styles, including fast paced drum orchestras taking place during carnivals or street parades, to the more calming samba-cancao. A recently developed style is the bossa nova music, which originated in Rio. It was created by middle class folk. During the 1960's, bossa nova music became increasingly popular, especially among leftist musicians.
In this style of music, the music sets the tempo, rhythm, type of playing, volume, and the energy.
Being able to understand songs in capoeira assists in retrieving historical context from early Brazilian history and life. Capoeira music acts as a guide and a teacher.
Frevo
Frevo music is played during carnivals, as it is fast paced and fun. Instruments that are included for playing this style of music include mostly brass instruments, typically the trombone, tuba, trumpet and the saxophone. This style of music is constantly mistaken as polka music.
Forró
Forro music includes many different styles of music. Usually, the musical style is based on a combination of an accordian (with a more dry tuning, compared to tunes in Europe), and a rhythm section of a zabumba and a triangle (triangle keeps the pulse in a consistent pattern of 4/4 while accentuating the third beat, and the zabumba is responsible for different rhythms).
Luiz Gonzaga first established these instruments to be the base of forro music. However, other instruments are commonly used, such as the fiddle, flute, bass, cavaquinho, acoustic guitar, the rabeca, and the pandeiro.
Samba
Samba happens to be among with the most popular music genres in Brazil (and quite a popular dance, as well!), and is commonly recognized as the countries national musical style. This fun style of music has traces to Africa, but was also popular in Rio due to the mixture of cultures and rhythms that allowed many different styles of the music to be produced.
This style of music became more well known in the beginning of the 20th century for it's catchy and distinguishable sound. It was first popularized from the immigrants of Bahia. Samba schools for dance and music were set up in the communities to try and incorporate the music into the local culture. The schools were most commonly run by samba dancers and performers.
'Pelo Telefone' was the first samba recording, which was released in 1917 by Mauro and Donga Almeida, which was a huge success. This brought the music out into the community for the local people. The exact history of the samba is yet to be determined, yet many historians believe that a group of musicians from Tia Ciata had formed the style.
Samba music, through the years, has developed into many different forms and styles, including fast paced drum orchestras taking place during carnivals or street parades, to the more calming samba-cancao. A recently developed style is the bossa nova music, which originated in Rio. It was created by middle class folk. During the 1960's, bossa nova music became increasingly popular, especially among leftist musicians.
Instruments
As you may have guessed, Brazil certainly has it's variety of instruments. From specialty guitars, to drums, to flutes, Brazilian music is open to a large amount of unique and different instruments.
Percussion Instruments
Even though it is largely heard in more African styles music, it is also popular within the different Brazilian music styles.
Atabaque
The atabaque is a simply a hand-drum. However, this instrument comes in three different kinds. One of the kinds of atabaque drums is called a 'Rum', and it is the tallest of the three. Due to it's height, this drum produces a deep and low sounding beat. The second, which is medium sized, goes by 'the Rum-Pi'. Wondering what kind of sound this instrument produces? Well, you probably guessed it on your first try, it makes a predictable medium percussion sound. Lastly, the third type of atabaque is a smaller drum, titled the 'Le'. As you may have guessed, this instrument makes a higher sounding percussion noise compared its siblings, the Rum and the Rum-Pi.
Each of these drums are made with a type of wood found in Brazil, called Jacaranda, while calfskin is the material stretched over the top of the drum. From the top to the bottom, metal rings surround the outside of the drum. Stretched in between two of the metal rings is roping which can be loosened or tightened. This determines and adjusts the tuning of the drum. However, tightly fitted pieces of wood are fitted between two of the metal rings, which also adjust the tuning.
These drums are commonly played for the Capoeira dances, as well as the Maculele dances, but are also used for Candomble religious services.
Percussion Instruments
Even though it is largely heard in more African styles music, it is also popular within the different Brazilian music styles.
Atabaque
The atabaque is a simply a hand-drum. However, this instrument comes in three different kinds. One of the kinds of atabaque drums is called a 'Rum', and it is the tallest of the three. Due to it's height, this drum produces a deep and low sounding beat. The second, which is medium sized, goes by 'the Rum-Pi'. Wondering what kind of sound this instrument produces? Well, you probably guessed it on your first try, it makes a predictable medium percussion sound. Lastly, the third type of atabaque is a smaller drum, titled the 'Le'. As you may have guessed, this instrument makes a higher sounding percussion noise compared its siblings, the Rum and the Rum-Pi.
Each of these drums are made with a type of wood found in Brazil, called Jacaranda, while calfskin is the material stretched over the top of the drum. From the top to the bottom, metal rings surround the outside of the drum. Stretched in between two of the metal rings is roping which can be loosened or tightened. This determines and adjusts the tuning of the drum. However, tightly fitted pieces of wood are fitted between two of the metal rings, which also adjust the tuning.
These drums are commonly played for the Capoeira dances, as well as the Maculele dances, but are also used for Candomble religious services.
Alfaia
The alfaia drum is used a great deal when it comes to the style of Mangue music and Maracuta music, which, by the way, is also a dance!
The drum has origins in Pernambuco, Brazil. However, it strongly resembles the drums used in the U.S. military, round and short.
The shell of this drum is created using macaiba wood, and calfskin or goatskin is layed down and stretched out of the head of the drum, using wooden hoops to hold it in place. Depending on how tight the ropes around the drum are, the sound of drum can be changed by changing the tension of the ropes.
The alfaia drum is used a great deal when it comes to the style of Mangue music and Maracuta music, which, by the way, is also a dance!
The drum has origins in Pernambuco, Brazil. However, it strongly resembles the drums used in the U.S. military, round and short.
The shell of this drum is created using macaiba wood, and calfskin or goatskin is layed down and stretched out of the head of the drum, using wooden hoops to hold it in place. Depending on how tight the ropes around the drum are, the sound of drum can be changed by changing the tension of the ropes.
Cavaquinho
The appearance of the cavaquinho much resembles that of a ukulele.
Other names given to this instrument include the cavaco, manchete, marchete, machimbo, machim, barguinho, or the braguinha.
Portuguese explorers were the first to bring this instrument to Brazil. They are created from wood, as well as four of wire strings.
This guitar is most commonly used for Samba and Chorinho music.
The appearance of the cavaquinho much resembles that of a ukulele.
Other names given to this instrument include the cavaco, manchete, marchete, machimbo, machim, barguinho, or the braguinha.
Portuguese explorers were the first to bring this instrument to Brazil. They are created from wood, as well as four of wire strings.
This guitar is most commonly used for Samba and Chorinho music.
Agogo
The agogo was the first (known) instrument used to create Samba music. It's look was inspired from bell-styled instruments, originating from the Yoruba people of West Africa.
Typically, this instrument holds one or two bells, with a third bell occasionally added. Each bell is a different size, as seen in the picture, and are connected by a ' U ' shaped piece of wire. The size and the shape of the bells let the pitches vary.
A wooden or metal stick is what strikes the bells, creating a nice, light sounding tune.
The agogo was the first (known) instrument used to create Samba music. It's look was inspired from bell-styled instruments, originating from the Yoruba people of West Africa.
Typically, this instrument holds one or two bells, with a third bell occasionally added. Each bell is a different size, as seen in the picture, and are connected by a ' U ' shaped piece of wire. The size and the shape of the bells let the pitches vary.
A wooden or metal stick is what strikes the bells, creating a nice, light sounding tune.
Pandeiro
The national instrument of Brazil!
The pandeiro, as guessed, resembles the well-known tambourine, both in looks and sound. It is used in samba, choro, coco and capoeira music.
Essentially the pandeiro is a hand drum, holding it in one hand while the other strikes it. The metal jingles surround the outside of the drum, creating a nice effect when hitting the head of the instrument.
The head of this instrument can be adjusted, which changes the pitch higher or lower.
The national instrument of Brazil!
The pandeiro, as guessed, resembles the well-known tambourine, both in looks and sound. It is used in samba, choro, coco and capoeira music.
Essentially the pandeiro is a hand drum, holding it in one hand while the other strikes it. The metal jingles surround the outside of the drum, creating a nice effect when hitting the head of the instrument.
The head of this instrument can be adjusted, which changes the pitch higher or lower.
Berimbau
Best known for its role in capoeira, a Brazilian martial art form, this African instrument also resembles the Indian instrument, the malunga.
This percussion instrument in made from a gourd, a steel string, and a wooden bow.
This tall instrument ranges from 4-5 feet in length, so that the gourd can rest on the abdomen and the feet can hold the wooden stick that strikes the steel string.
Tones vary from quite low, and medium to high.
This partially depends on the quality of the gourd and the diameter and thickness of the wood. Sounds that the instrument most commonly produce include an 'open string' sound, along with a high sound, and a buzzing sound.
Best known for its role in capoeira, a Brazilian martial art form, this African instrument also resembles the Indian instrument, the malunga.
This percussion instrument in made from a gourd, a steel string, and a wooden bow.
This tall instrument ranges from 4-5 feet in length, so that the gourd can rest on the abdomen and the feet can hold the wooden stick that strikes the steel string.
Tones vary from quite low, and medium to high.
This partially depends on the quality of the gourd and the diameter and thickness of the wood. Sounds that the instrument most commonly produce include an 'open string' sound, along with a high sound, and a buzzing sound.
