This is a wonderful piece of music.
"Retrato Brasileiro" (Brazilian Portrait) is a captivating instrumental piece composed by the legendary Brazilian guitarist and composer Baden Powell de Aquino. Known simply as Baden Powell, he was a virtuoso whose work bridged classical guitar techniques with the rich traditions of Brazilian music, including bossa nova, samba, and choro. This piece, a choro lento (slow choro), exemplifies his ability to weave introspective melodies with intricate harmonies, reflecting both his technical mastery and deep connection to Brazilian musical heritage.
Born on August 6, 1937, in Varre-Sai, a small town in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Roberto Baden Powell de Aquino was named after Robert Baden-Powell, the British founder of the Scouting movement, due to his father Lino de Aquino’s admiration for the figure. Lino, a violinist and guitarist, introduced Baden to music early on. At three months old, the family moved to Rio de Janeiro, settling in the São Cristóvão neighborhood, where Baden was immersed in a vibrant musical environment. By age seven, he began studying guitar under Jaime Florence (known as "Meira"), a renowned guitarist in Benedito Lacerda’s regional ensemble. Baden’s formal training continued at the National School of Music in Rio, where he earned a diploma in classical guitar by age 14.
Powell’s career took off in the 1950s as he played in Rio’s burgeoning jazz and bossa nova scenes. His early gigs included performing with the Steve Bernard Orchestra at the Boite Plaza nightclub and later joining Ed Lincoln’s Hotel Plaza Trio. His breakthrough came in 1959 with "Samba Triste," a collaboration with Billy Blanco that became a hit and showcased his knack for blending jazz-influenced harmonies with Brazilian rhythms. However, it was his partnership with poet Vinicius de Moraes in the 1960s, particularly the 1966 album Os Afro-Sambas, that cemented his international reputation. This album fused samba with Afro-Brazilian rhythms like candomblé and umbanda, marking a pivotal moment in Música Popular Brasileira (MPB).
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"Retrato Brasileiro" is a solo guitar piece that falls within the choro tradition, a genre considered one of Brazil’s first urban popular music styles, predating samba and bossa nova. Choro is characterized by its syncopated rhythms and virtuosic melodies, often evoking a sense of nostalgia or saudade—a deep emotional longing central to Brazilian culture. As a choro lento, "Retrato Brasileiro" adopts a slower, more reflective tempo, allowing Powell to explore lyrical phrasing and subtle dynamics.
The piece is written in E minor with a 4/4 time signature, spanning approximately 37 measures (depending on the arrangement). Its structure and harmonic language reflect Powell’s classical training, incorporating sophisticated chord progressions and modulations reminiscent of European composers like Frédéric Chopin, whom Powell admired.
Today, it stands as a testament to his status as one of the greatest guitarists of the 20th century, a Brazilian treasure whose music continues to resonate worldwide.
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