Nanci Alvarado - Brazil Music Ethnography

2. CARNIVAL
THE MARDI GRAS OF THE SOUTHERN
HEMISPHERE
Featuring the Samba
Dates back to 1723
Tradition from Portugal
Originally a Catholic food festival

3. Portuguese Influences
• Portuguese settled in Brazil in 1500
• Official language of Brazil is Portuguese
• Portuguese brought gift of beautiful song lyrics and ballads to Brazil
• Numerous festivals from Catholic Church in Portugal were introduced to Braz
• Portuguese brought instruments to Brazil: flute, piano, violin, guitar, clarinet,
triangle, accordion, cavaquinho, violoncello, Jew's harp, and tambourine

4. AFRICAN INFLUENCES
• Portuguese brought African Slaves to Brazil in 1538
• Africans brought music, dance, religion
• Africans brought percussion and polyrhythms to Brazil
• Brazil has largest African-descended population outside of Africa

5. CANDOMBLE
“DANCE IN HONOUR OF THE GODS”
• Brought to Brazil by West African slaves
• Religion followed mainly in Brazil
• No concept of good/evil – “strive to be the best
you can be”
• Music & Dance important features of Candomble
ceremonies
• Candomble music roots of Salsa and Bossa Nova

6. PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS
Surdo
Pandeiro
Repenique Cuica Timba
Caixa Tamborim
Rocar
Agogo Bells
Ganza
Berimbau Ganzeiro
• Brazilian music full of passion
• Music features African polyrhythm of percussion instruments
• Samba is rich with percussion instruments

7. STRINGED INSTRUMENTS
BANDOLIM VIOLA BANJA
CAVAQUINHO

8. BOSSA NOVA
ASTRUD GILBERTO & STAN GETZ
THE GIRL FROM IMPANEMA
1964

9. SAMBA
BELLINI
SAMBA DE JANEIRO
2012

10. THE END
Nancy Alvarado
Bachelor in Social Work
23 years in Pediatric Oncology as a Dept Coordinator; back to school at 48
y.o. to get my degree in Social Work
Live in Santa Barbara County, USA
Have not traveled outside of United States; but have traveled within the
United States to New Orleans, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,
New Jersey, Oregon, & Washington