This piece is about Brazil's struggle to get independence from Portugal in the XVIII century. this struggle like in the rest of the Caribbean, was manifested in their carnival music and dances. Thus, Verde Mar de Navegar is a carnival song that commemorates this struggle by singing to the names of not only martyrs, but also important carnival artists.
Verde Mar de Navegar
Lyrics/Translation
Batuqueiro que baque é esse?
Drummer what beat is that?
É o baque de nossa alteza
It is the sound of our highness
E não há mais que outro baque
And there is nothing but another thud
Ó senhor mas é só tristeza
Oh Lord but it is very sad
Cadê Leão Coroado
The case of Coronado Leão (1)
Cadê Cambinda Brilhante
The case of Cambinda Brilhante (2)
Cadê Cruzeiro do Forte
The case of Cruzeiro do Forte (3)
Maracatu Elefante
Elephant Maracatu (4)
Olha o céu olha para o mar
Look at the sky on the ocean
Verde mar de navegar verde mar
Green ocean to sail green ocean
Olha o céu olha para o mar
Look at the sky on the ocean
Verde mar de navegar verde mar
Green ocean to sail green ocean
"Paixão pelo Pernambuco pelo P de Portugal
Passion for the P of Pernambuco for the P of Portugal
Por Olinda por Holanda por Mauricio de Nassau
for Olinda (5), for Holand, for Mauricio de Nassau (6)
Pelo Recife magia no dia de carnaval"
In the magic day of Recife's carnival
Batuqueiro que baque é esse?
É o baque de nossa alteza
E não há mais que outro baque
Ó senhor mas é só tristeza
Cadê Leão Coroado
Cadê Cambinda Brilhante
Cadê Cruzeiro do Forte
Maracatu Elefante
Olha o céu olha para o mar
Verde mar de navegar verde mar
Olha o céu olha para o mar
Verde mar de navegar verde mar
(1) Captain José de Barros Lima, or Leão Coroado (Recife, 1764 — Recife, July 10, 1817), was a Brazilian military revolutionary. His reaction to the arresting voice of Portuguese commander Barbosa de Castro, killing him with sword blows, was the trigger of the Pernambuco Revolution. He was condemned to death. De Barros Lima was hanged, his head was severed, his
hands were cut off and his body was tied to two horses and dragged
through the streets of Recife.
(2) The Cambinda performed in the Paraiba city of Lucena, was a festival on Easter Sunday to celebrate the emancipation of African slaves in Brazil in 1888. This is the oral tradition passed on by Joao Marcos Chagaz, king of the group of fishermen who constituted the Cambinda Brilhante de Lucena. Formed up in two files, with the royal family between them, the participants danced through the streets accompanied by zabumba bass drums and shakers (Retrieved from Rhythms of Resistance: African Musical Heritage in Brazil, By Peter Fryer).
(3) Cruzeiro do Forte is the oldest Maracatu Rural of Recife city. In 2009 they celebrated their 80 years aniversary. The CD below was a goal of the community of the Southern
Cross in order to register their 75 year old performance history that is no longer practiced. See also video. (https://www.womex.com/virtual/selo_mundo_melhor/maracatu_rural_do_de)
(4) Maracatu Elefante: Maracatu Elefante or (Elephant Maracatu) Group was founded in 1800 by the slave Manuel Santiago, after his discontent with the direction of Maracatu Brilhante (Shiny Maracatu Group), taking many members of the old group with him.A maracatu group in the nação (nation) or baque virado style, Maracatu Elefante became popularly known as Maracatu de Dona Santa (Mrs Santa’s Maracatu Group), the group’s most famous queen, whose reign spanned from 1947 to 1962.In their origins, maracatu groups were a representation of the African royal courts in Brazil, in an attempt to preserve the uses and customs. With the influence of Catholic traditions, its procession was more or less in the mold of the Portuguese monarchy, with the king, queen, princes, vassals, flag-bearer, ambassador, baianas (women from Bahia), spear holders and a slave bearing the royal canopy, a cover supported by poles to protect the person honoured in the procession. (http://basilio.fundaj.gov.br/pesquisaescolar_en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1150&Itemid=1)
(5) Olinda: A historic city in the Brazilian State of Pernambuco, located on the country's northeastern Atlantic Ocean coast, in Greater Recife (capital of Pernambuco State).It is noted as one of the best-preserved colonial cities in Brazil. Olinda features a number of major tourist attractions, such as a historic downtown area, churches, and the Carnival of Olinda, a popular street party, very similar to traditional Portuguese carnivals, with the addition of African influenced dances.
(6) João Maurício de Nassau-Siegen; (17 June 1604 – 20 December 1679) was called "the Brazilian" for his fruitful period as governor of Dutch Brazil. He was Count and (from 1664) Prince of Nassau-Siegen, and Grand Master of the Order of Saint John (Bailiwick of Brandenburg).
Choral Arrangement
No comments:
Post a Comment