Samba music: history, characteristics, and cultural significance

Music

Samba Music

The Samba originated as a folk dance in Brazil, where it is called the folk Samba or the Batuque. It has become the national dance of Brazil, and it is danced during Carnival as a festival dance. One writer notes, "The Samba is danced as a festival dance during the street festivals and parades. When one sees pictures of people dancing at Carnival in Rio, it is the Samba. A Samba dancer is known in Brazil as a Sambista" (Baker, 2007). The music for the Samba is very quick, with about 100 beats or 50 measures per minute, and the rhythm is always "joyful and contagious" (Baker, 2007). It is the format of many top 40 songs such as "La Isla Bonita" by Madonna. Another author notes, "Samba is basically a musical construction made with a binary time and a syncopated rhythm. On the top of this basic form all types of samba are formulated" (Yami, 2002). It is very important to note that there are numerous variations on the basic Samba rhythm, from rock to many local variations.

The basic Samba is usually played on a variety of percussion instruments, such as guitars, drums, and bongo drums. Another well-known format of the Samba is the Bossa Nova, which began in the 1950s and is influenced by jazz, and is "softer" and "more relaxed" than basic Samba (Yami, 2002). Samba Enredo is a Carnival form of music that is played mainly on drums and can contain solo and couple type moves. Samba de Pagode is somewhat of the "poor people's Samba," as it originated in the backyard parties in the poorer sections of Brazil. It usually contains themes of regret, happiness, or romance.