The fascinating story behind the song “Brazil,” which I had always assumed was a pastiche written by a North American:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarela_do_Brasil
Sung by Francisco de Morais Alves (1939):
Disney’s take (with a special bonus on the soundtrack of “Tico-Tico”):
José do Patrocinio Oliveira, also known as Zé Carioca, the real-life José Carioca:
Oliveira was part of Carmen Miranda’s circle:
The atmosphere in Princeton this weekend might best be described as “carnivalesque,” as COAA – Carousel Organ Association of America and AMICA – Automatic Musical Instruments Collector’s Association bring their historic and wondrous collections to the community.
The organizations will combine for a “band organ rally” that will grace Princeton’s public spaces with ornate, century-old mechanical organs that may conjure memories for some of a bygone America from halcyon days.
The elaborate mechanical instruments will be on display in the streets, squares and parks of Princeton on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information desks and exhibits will help provide context.
On Saturday at 10 a.m., at Nassau Presbyterian Church, across from Palmer Square, a one-hour multi-media presentation and orientation will be held to help acclimate the public to the music, the organizations, and their history.
The rally will include everything from crank, grind or monkey organs, to large, trailer-mounted models that approximate the sounds of marching bands or concert orchestras.
Music will range from vintage, classical and dancehall tunes to today’s greatest popular hits, which will be reinterpreted in very distinctive ways.
Find out more about the organizations and the mechanical instruments in my article in today’s Trenton Times.
http://www.nj.com/times-entertainment/index.ssf/2016/08/classical_music_carnivalesque.html
Tonight marks the opening ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. I hope you’ll join me on WWFM – The Classical Network for a three-hour musical warm-up.
We’ll savor performances by legendary Brazilian musicians such as Bidu Sayão, Guiomar Novaes, and Laurindo Almeida, music by Brazilian composers such as Camargo Guarnieri and Heitor Villa-Lobos, a few works inspired by Brazil, plenty of traditional Brazilian music, and of course an assortment of Olympic fanfares and occasional pieces written for past games.
Listen in your sneakers and sweats. Tune in from 4 to 7 p.m. EDT, at 89.1 FM or online at wwfm.org.
This morning on WPRB, we are consumed by OLYMPIC FEEEEEEEEEEEE-VAH! Or maybe it’s just the Zika virus. It’s hard to tell, as we celebrate the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro.
We’ll hear Olympic fanfares and occasional music composed by Leo Arnaud, Angelo Badalamenti, Robin Frost, Philip Glass, Basil Poledouris, Richard Strauss (his notorious “Olympic Hymn” for the 1936 Berlin games), Mikis Theodorakis, and John Williams.
We’ll also hear works by Brazilian composers Antônio Carlos Gomes , Camargo Guarnieri and Heitor Villa-Lobos, alongside music inspired by Brazil by smitten tourists Darius Milhaud, Ottorino Respighi, Martin Butler and David Gunn.
Also featured will be Michael Torke’s “Javelin,” co- commissioned by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games; John Harbison’s “Olympic Dances;” and bona fide medal-winning works by Olympic composers Josef Suk and Rudolph Simonsen.
We’ll be testing positive for caffeine, from 6 to 11 EDT on WPRB 103.3 FM and at wprb.com. Our motto has always been “Citius, Altius, Fortius,” on “Classic Ross Amico.”
Music composed for the Olympics or inspired by Brazil this morning as we look forward to the Summer Games in Rio. The opening ceremonies take place tomorrow night. Tune in to WPRB 103.3 FM or wprb.com this morning until 11 EDT to enjoy works by Michael Torke, John Harbison, David Gunn, Darius Milhaud, John Williams and Mikis Theodorakis. We’re going for the gold, on Classic Ross Amico.
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