Brazilian Guitar by André Christovam
Brazil’s middle name is rhythm. The land has a pulse of its own, malandros and mulatas swing by on their way to fulfil any daily routine. It’s a natural skill! A simple matchbox in a skilled set of hands can present a groove that just makes you move on your chair! Everything becomes an instrument but when you need a voice that can communicate beyond instint, something with a eloquence that allows you to express the melody of a smile and the harmony of the Sunset by the sea, you need a powerful tool to evocate the celestial tones of the music realm in all its glory. The guitar in Brazilian culture is omnipresent. It travels between all stages and social schelon. It has a voice that fits in a roda de samba as well as in concert hall. Everybody digs it and at one gave it a try… Some special cases are born to conquer and expand its possibilities. These are artists. Their craft is beyond compare. Among them, you have those whose inspiration and dedication allowed them to transcend all limitations. They are One with the guitar. Surreal skills, where the technic serves the soul and beauty, materialises in tone poetry! We have been blessed to have a handful of them in our cast.
In Brazil, the guitar has become one of the greatest symbols of popular culture. It is not by chance that Brazilian musicians such as Villa-Lobos, João Gilberto and Baden Powell have enchanted audiences around the world playing their guitars. With this instrument, these musicians and others have adapted well-known rhythms, multiplied harmonic possibilities, accompanied wonderful singers, and enriched concert halls all over the country. The guitar has become such a popular instrument in Brazil that nearly every household uses one to add a little poetry to everyday life. As a natural consequence of the guitar’s widespread use throughout the country, many talented Brazilian guitarists have emerged on the scene. Young instrumentalists have reconceived contemporary world trends while keeping their feet rooted in the Brazilian music tradition. They are demonstrating a magical mix of guitar-playing styles. Their innovative work is transforming the guitar itself into a truly Brazilian instrument, and their new musical expressions are reaching new heights of international popularity.
André Christovam, musician and educator