A collection of Choro pieces by Brazilian Choro composers, specially arranged for Viola and piano. Intermediate to Advanced Level. Choro is an instrumental Brazilian popular music genre which originated in 19th century Rio de Janeiro. Despite it's name, which means "little cry" or "little lament", the music often has a fast and happy rhythm. Choro is considered the first characteristically Brazilian genre of urban popular music.
The Brazilian tango "Gaúcho" is Chiquinha Gonzaga's most recorded song. It was a song from the burlesque operetta "Zizinha Maxixe" of 1895. The piece is subtitled "Dança do Corta-jaca," literally meaning "cut the jackfruit." It is a Brazilian traditional dance, characterized by energetic individual spins, gymnastic moves, and percussive footwork. The song caused a minor scandal when the First Lady of Brazil, Nair de Teffé, performed it on guitar in public in 1914.
"Querida Por Todos" ("Dear to all") was written by Joaquim Callado as a tribute to composer Chiquinha Gonzaga. His friendship with her began when she travelled to Rio de Janiero following her decision to leave her husband. Callado was himself considered one of the greatest exponents of the choro style, both as a composer and as a flautist in his group "Choro Carioca."
"Atraente" (literally "Attractive") was written by Chiquinha Gonzaga in 1877. The piece shot her to sudden fame, with 15 editions printed in 1877 alone. Her success was not viewed positively in all parts of the then patriarchal Brazilian society, with even her own family attempting to destroy copies of the score. They could not, however, prevent its success nor, indeed, the trailblazing career it launched.
"Menina Faceira" ("Cheeky Girl") was written in 1885 as part of the opera "A corte na roça' to a libretto by Palhares Ribiero. The song developed a life of its own, in the repertoire, for example, of Plácida dos Santos and published as far afield as Germany with lyrics by Fraulein Shattka.
"Cubanita" was composed by Chiquinha Gonzaga in 1898. It is a habanera, a type of dance that derives from from the French contradanse (itself derived from the English country dance). The contradanse was brought to the Americas by colonists, developing its own distinct style in Cuba, becoming, in fact, the first Cuban dance to gain international popularity.
Patápio Silva rose from humble beginnings to become both a composer and one of the greatest flautists in history. That he is achieved this is all the the more remarkable given that he died at the age of just 26, after falling ill with a high fever during a rehearsal. It also makes his charmingly urbane "Zinha" a wistful reminder of a talent too quickly gone.
"Primeiro Amor" ('First Love") is possibly the best-known composition of Brazilian composer and flautist Patápio Silva. It takes the form of a graceful, though technically tricky, waltz, probably intended to show off the playing skills of Silva himself.
"Flor Amorosa" (literally "Loving Flower") is a graceful polka first published in 1880, though it was almost certainly written some years before that. Joaquim Antônio da Silva Calado was a foundational figure in the choro movement—he was active as a composer, coined the term "choro," founded the group Choro Carioca and supported musicians such as Chiquinha Gonzaga.
Amor Perdido ("Lost Love") is a melancholic waltz for flute by Brazilian composer Patápio Silva. It is likely that he wrote the work for his own use. It was one of the last works published before his untimely death in 1907, at the age of just 26.
