Capoeira
"Berimbau tocou na capoeira
Berimbau tocou eu vou jogar”
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| https://www.facebook.com/capoeirabatuque.pasadena |
the unmistakeable sound of a Berimbau (instrument par excellence of Capoeira) seemingly compelled everyone to stop and circle around. The Berimbau was accompanied quickly by other Berimbaus, pandeiros, atabaques and agogo. Two individuals greeted each other at the foot of the instrument as the player started singing. After a few versus the two capoeiristas at the foot of the Berimbau shook hands and cart wheeled into the center of the circle. The two began exchanging attacks and dodges while keeping in rhythm with the music. The "Roda de Capoeira" has begun.
Capoeira is of Afro-Brazilian origin and is one of the best representatives/ambassadors of Brazilian culture in the world. Through its music and movement, the capoeiristas caught the attention of all those nearby. Many capoeiristas from various groups participated. The Roda was lead by Contra Mestre Muito Tempo who teaches in Pasadena and is part of the group known as Capoeira Batuque.
Samba
“Porque samba é pura emoção
Que vem do coração
Que vem do coração
Que chora de prazer”
As soon as the clock struck 7pm, the capoeiristas finished and the crowd made their way back to their spots on the picnic blankets. A voice appeared through the speakers and as the rumbling came to a halt you could here the band being introduced as each one of the band members made his or her way out to the stage. The very first notes came from a cavaquinho that was quickly joined by the other string and percussion instruments. Two male vocalists and three female vocalists (or beautiful sirens as far as I could tell from my perspective ;P) joined in playful harmony to the festive melodies being played.
The rhythm was contagious to the point where you could see the public slowly swaying to the music emanating from the stage. Just as the moon made its appearance adding more axé to the night, one by one the crowd started to exchange their spots on the picnic blankets for spots on the dance floor. Beautiful songs paying tribute to Clara Nunes as well as other energetic sambas provoked those on the dance floor to match their feet and hips to the Brazilian beat. The crowd was grooving, some succeeding more than others in their Samba attempts, for the better part of two hours. The band had the crowd so enchanted that the musicians had to return to give one last song.
The Samba Society is a collective of musicians dedicated to bringing traditional and some contemporary sambas to Americans. In their repertoire they highlight the urban sambas of Rio de Janeiro like Partido Alto and like Samba de terreiro popularized by groups like "velha guarda" according to their site.
For those of you who may be interested in seeing them perform, you are in luck. They will be performing at the Tropico de Nopal Gallery in Los Angeles this Monday(Labor day) for the third annual "Samba do trabalhador." For more info you can visit their web page at:
http://www.sambasociety.com/
or their Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/SambaSociety?ref=br_tf
To learn more about Contra Mestre Muito Tempo and his classes in Pasadena visit:
http://capoeirapasala.org/
or on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/capoeirabatuque.pasadena
For more on the Levitt Pavilion in Pasadena and their activities visit:
http://www.levittpavilionpasadena.org/summer-guide-2013.html
This summer has been excellent for outdoor summer concerts. I like how you describe how music influence the crowd :)
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