Bossa Nova Origins And History Instruments Structure

Bossa nova
Stylistic origins:	American jazz and Brazilian samba
Cultural origins:	Late 1950s beaches of Rio de Janeiro
Typical instruments:
Mainstream popularity:	Major in Brazil, and also in Western Europe and the US
Subgenres
MPB - Tropicalia
Fusion genres

National scenes

Other topics
Bossa nova

The music derives from the sambaSamba is the most famous among the various forms of music that resulted from the amalgam of African and Portuguese music that took place in Brazil. The name samba most probably comes from the Angolan semba ( mesemba) a religious rhythm. Samba developed as but is more complex melodically and less percussive. The genreMusical genres are categories which contain music which share a certain style or which have certain elements in common. See also musical form. Some genres, such as Indian music, are geographically defined; others, like Baroque music, are largely defined b is highly influenced by jazz and became massively popular in Brazil and elsewhere in Latin AmericaLatin America consists of the countries of South America and North America (including Central America and the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken there. Most freque, though its international success was limited to brief periods of popularity, such as after the release of the film Black Orpheus , and with Stan GetzStanley Getz better known as Stan Getz ( February 2, 1927 June 6, 1991) was a jazz musician. He is considered one of the greatest tenor saxophone players of all time, well known for his instantly recognizable warm tone as displayed in his version of the s's releases in the 1960s.

It is not consensus that bossa nova can be called a movement. However, it is recognized for its importance in Brazilian music history. It introduced complex harmonies, close relationship between lyrics and music, and a general concern for arrangement and musical form. It influenced later movements such as TropicáliaTropicalismo otherwise known as Tropicalia is a form of Brazilian music that arose in the late 1960s from a melange of bossa nova, rock and roll, Bahia folk music, and perhaps Portuguese fado. As a reaction against the perceived cliches of pop music, trop and MPB. Bossa nova repertoire consists predominantly of songs, while the instrumental music similar to it is generally called samba-jazz.

Perhaps the best known bossa nova song is Antonio Carlos Jobim's "The Girl from Ipanema" (" Garota de Ipanema"), which is widely known in both its original Portuguese and in English translation.

2 Instruments

Bossa nova is most commonly performed on the nylon-string classical guitar, played fingerstyle (without a pick). Its purest form could be considered unaccompanied guitar with vocals, as exemplified by João Gilberto. Even in larger jazz-like arrangements for groups, there is almost always a guitar that plays the underlying beat.

Though not as prominent as the guitar, the piano is another important instrument of bossa nova; Jobim wrote for the piano and performed on it for most of his own recordings. The piano has also served as a stylistic bridge between bossa nova and jazz, enabling a great deal of cross-pollination between the two.

Drums and percussion are not considered essential bossa nova instruments (and in fact the creators sought to eliminate percussion), yet there is a distinctive bossa nova drumming style, characterized by continuous eighths on the high-hat (mimicking the samba tambourine) and tapping of the rim.

Lush orchestral accompaniment is often associated with bossa nova's North American image as "elevator" or "lounge" music. While it is present, perhaps excessively, in much of Jobim's own recordings, it is rarely heard elsewhere.

3 Structure

Bossa nova is at its core a rhythm, and one based on the samba. Samba is in turn partially derived from European march music, and emphasis on the first beat carries through to bossa nova (to the degree that it is often notated in 2/4 time). When played on the guitar, the thumb plays the bass notes on 1 and 3, while the fingers pluck the chords in unison on 1 and 2, delayed on 3. Overall, the rhythm has a swaying rather than swinging (as in jazz) feel. As bossa nova composer Carlos Lyra describes it in his song "Influência do Jazz", the samba rhythm moves "side to side" while jazz moves "front to back".

Here is an example of a basic bossa nova rhythm as would be played on a guitar, using a C6/9 chord.

In terms of harmonic structure, bossa nova has a great deal in common with jazz, in its sophisticated use of seventh and extended chords . The first bossa nova song, "Chega de Saudade", borrowed some structural elements from choro, however, later compositions rarely followed this form. Jobim often used challenging, almost dissonant melody lines, the best-known being "Desafinado" or "Off-Key".

4 List of bossa nova artists

5 Other artists associated with bossa nova

6 Related articles

Samba, Bossa Nova (dance) Brazilian music Bossa nova

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Home > Bossa nova

1 Origins and history