Forro is for All!

I went to a party a few day ago! I'm telling you this because was amazed by how everyone was into Forró! That was the dance music of choice for this very international group that included Americans, Argentineans, Japanese, Italians and of course, brazilians! They were dancing and singing and making me feel I was in Recife. Recife was, in a summer long gone, where I learned to dance forró!

Forró is rhythm and dance style that originated in the Northeast of Brazil. By now, you may have noticed that many of the contagious music from Brazil sprang from this culturally rich area. Some researchers claim that Forró is derived from the word “for all”. English companies in the early 1900 would organize parties for their workers and would advertise it as “for all”, including the general populace. Another theory is that Forro is a derivative of the Portuguese word forrobodó, which refers to “great party” and “joyful gatherings”. Forro is a style of music and dance created by the most humble and poor part of population in the “sertão nordertino”, the semi-arid region in Northeastern Brazil. This dusty interior area receives very little rainfall and sometimes endures sad, long-lasting droughts making life for the “sertanejos” extremely difficult.

Musician Luiz Gonzaga was the most significant promoter of fórro and the northeast music to the rest of Brazil. Gonzaga was born in 1912 in the Northeastern town of Exu, Pernambuco. As a young boy he would play in festivals and small towns balls with his father, the musician Januario Gonzaga. He joined the army at the age of 18 and played in military bands for almost a decade. After leaving the army in 1939, he decided to stay in Rio de Janeiro. Though his brilliant career Luiz Gonzaga sung about the struggles, longings and nostalgia of the Northeastern Sertanejos that due to their homeland drought and lack of jobs were obligated to migrate to larger cities in the south. He praised the interior life becoming one of the symbols for the reality of life in the sertão, giving voice to this simple brazilian population.

"When the green of your eyes spread
over the dead plantation
I promise you that,
Please don’t cry because,
Then I'll be back, dear
Then I'll be back, dear
Then I'll be back."

The traditional Forró is also known as Pé-de Serra. It has as main musical source the instrumental trio of accordion, zabumba and triangulo. This style is well alive specially in the interior and cities like Recife in the state of Pernambuco. Forró music has enjoyed a revival. Young people in Brazil, and even International audiences, have been captivated by it’s contagious rhythms. Forro Universitario is the style associated with bands as Rastapé and Falamansa. It receives this name because of its link to the college kids and bands. Their music is a bit softer then the traditional Forro but still centers around Forro’s instruments and rhythms.

Definitely, Forró is danceable music. Forró is danced in pairs. To dance it well you have to keep pelvis close together, interlock you tights moving in unison and feeling the beat of the zabumba. Zabumba is the great drum that marks the complex rhythms of Forro! Danced in clubs, street festivals and relaxed balls any time of the year in Brazil, this dance receives great attention during Festa Juninas, brazilian festival that happens in June around Dia de Sao João (Saint John's Day)!

When the next invite for a Brazilian Party arrive, if you decide to go, there is good chance that you will be dancing Forró instead of Samba! Forró is for all and is, everywhere!

Music: Mangue Bit Beat!

The other day when I wrote about the tradition of Maracatu I mentioned to you Chico Science. Below I post a couple of CDs names just in case you want to check them out!.

Many of Brazil's great musicians come from the Nordeste (northeast) of Brazil. Pernambuco is one of the largest states of this region (over 3,800 square miles). The city of Recife is the state's capitol. I will be writing more about Pernambuco's beautiful and rich culture in my blog in the future. I want to mention here the Mangue Movement.

In the 1990's a new sound and musical boost came out of Recife called Mague Bit! Chico Science and Nação Zumbi is one of the most famous bands, being one of the founders and promoters of it. With strong rhythmic feel, mixing of traditional with electric instruments and social message, their music is impressive in many levels! It was not only another fusion type of music but an original sound that evolved from a rich cultural tradition and contemporary realities. Chico Science died in 1997 in an unfortunate car accident during canaval season at the young age of 30.

Listen to: da lama ao cais (1994/Sony). This was Chico Science and Nação Zumbi highly successful debut Cd!

Another principal band of this movement is Mundo Livre founded by Fred Motenegro, who uses his nickname of Fred04, and his brother, bassist Fabio.

Listen to the CD: Guentando a oia (1996/ Deckdisc label) and Por pouco (2000)

I will write more about their contributions and influences soon! For now enjoy the music!

To Drink Or Not (To Drink)! A Caipirinha Recipe!

I'm sitting here at my house, a bit bored with my evening, and I just decided to make a caipirinha! No rehearsal for me tonight, but, its not that I don't have things to do! I actually have more to do than I can handle! I have a pile of papers to review, thousands of people to e-mail back and a new DVD to produce. And those listed are just the most urgent business matters. I thought about other fun possibilities too! I can take a walk or go visit a friend. I can also go bug my husband by saying I'm bored. Just like a five year old kid in need of stimulation and attention. But I do this too often! I'm starting to feel guilty to interrupt his not so bored life! So I decided to make a caipirinha. Yes, Brazil’s famous national drink!

I know what you’re thinking. Caipirinha is not a drink that you should drink alone! Caipirinha invites parties and celebration. Caipirinha is usually drank in a night out in Rio de Janeiro ...or a nice evening at Pelourinho, the historic square in Salvador Bahia. For sure you would share this drink in a fancy club in São Paulo where beautiful people meet or, the best moments, in backyard family gatherings in your Brazilian hometown.

Believe me, I know! I haven't ever made a caipirinha to drink all by myself. I can start by explaining to you that I'm too far from Brazil! Yes, I can go out here in my California city with a couple of friends and for sure ask for a caipirinha. But remember, I'm bored! I'm bored and worst, lazy! No chance of me going out tonight! So, I decided to make a caipirinha and drink all alone. Accompanying my cocktail will be some Brazilian tunes. I think Caetano will go well tonight. Now understand, its not that Caetano is music for bored people. Caetano is music for the one in need of inspiration!

Now that I clarified myself I will share my recipe with you. Just in case you are bored and in need of some laid back inspiration too!


CAIPIRINHA!
This is a drink made with the Brazilian cachaça, a distilled alcohol made from sugar cane. You may also use vodka or light rum instead of the cachaça. If you use vodka, its called caipiroska, for rum you say caipirissima.

1 lime
1 tablespoon of sugar
2 onces of cachaça
4 large ice cubes or 8 smaller one


Quarter the limes and then slice them in even smaller pieces. Place the sliced limes in an old fashioned glass. Add the tablespoon of sugar. Mash it until the sugar dissolves. Pour 2 onces of cachaça (rum or vodka). Add the ice cubes. Stir well and enjoy!

Maracatu Traditions!

From the state of Pernambuco, MARACATU is a cultural manifestation that mixes elements of theater and music. Its origins goes back to the Reis do Congo (Kings of the Congo) procession that existed since the Brazilian Colonial era until the slavery abolition in 1888. Acting as an intermediary between the Portuguese Colonizers (or the Brazilian government) and the black slaves, the King of Congos were required to maintain the peace among “his people”. In the churches, as custom, the king and queen, elected by their people, were cultured. The slaves celebrated by playing their drums, singing and dancing right after the sacred ceremony. From this tradition the cultural manifestation of Maracatu developed in Pernambuco. There are two varieties of Maracatus: Maracatu Nação and Maracatu Rural. Both have in commom its Afro-Brazilian origins.

The Maracatu Nação also called MARACATU BAQUE VIRADO has visible religious traces and overtones. The music style is lively and dramatic. The ensemble usually consists of percussion and a procession that has as primary figures the “king” and “Queen”. They are encircle by costumed consorts and protected by a canopy.

Maracatu Rural also called as Maracatu de Baque Solto ensembles sugarcane workers and its rooted in the interior. It has afro-indigineous origins. It advanced from the fusion of pre-existing forms of Carnival merrymaking.

Maracatu rhythms influenced successful contemporary fusions as the Mangue Beat movement and Chico Science's music. Chico Science was one of the most famous musicians of the last decades. He were greatly inspired by the Maracatu tradition!