Chôro-Jazzy
Heitor Villa-Lobos is a giant among composers for classical guitar. Less well-known are his other works, many of which combine elements of native Brazilian folk and popular music with those of European chamber and orchestral music. There is a rich musical heritage in Brazil that includes Chôro, Samba, and Bossa Nova, among others, all of which deserve wider recognition on the world stage.
Chôro emerged in the late 19th century, key composers including Ernesto Nazareth and Alfredo da Rocha Viana Filho, better known as Pixinguinha. But music never stops evolving, so Chôro eventually evolved into Bossa Nova. Bossa in particular migrated northward to the USA and across the world. Artists like Antonio Carlos Jobim, Astrud Gilberto, Stan Getz and a host of other premier jazz composers and performers brought it to new audiences.
Villa-Lobos wrote a series of Chôro inspired pieces for classical guitar, e.g., Mazurca-choro, Schottish-choro, Valsa-choro, Gavota-choro, Chorino, and the fetching Choros nº1.
This piece taps into that tradition, and is further a celebration of the rich and intertwined musical traditions of Brazil and the USA. The instrumentation, based on a little-known work by Villa-Lobos, Sexteto Mistico, includes: Flute, Oboe, Saxophone (alto), Celeste, Guitar, and Harp.
Movements
- Chôro (Dm) (0:00)
- Samba (Dm) (1:44)
- Bluesy (F) (3:14)
- Bossa (Dm) (4:58)
- Strollin' (D, A) (6:32)
- Jazzy (Dm) (8:12)