Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Lingua de Preto

One of the first recordings by Garoto that fascinated me was his 1949 recording of the classic choro 'Lingua de preto' composed by Honorino Lopes (1884-1909). The composer, Honorino Lopes, is rather unknown, he died 25 years old from tuberculosis, but is remembered for this particular choro that remains a part of the choro standard repertoire. Jacob do Bandolim as well as Benedito Lacerdo accompanied by Pixinguinha also recorded the tune in 1949. The choro was recorded for the first time between 1907 and 1912 by the Banda da Força Policial do Estado de São Paulo for the Odeon label and again in 1913 by the Banda da Casa Edison. None of these first recordings are available in the online discoteque at Instituto Moreia Salles. However, if you click your right mouse button, you have the opportunity to listen to the streaming audio of the mentioned recording by Garoto of 'Lingua de preto' here
As demonstrated in the streaming audio, Garoto plays the solo voice on violão tenor. Jacob do Bandolim's rendition features the bandolim as solo voice, of course. You may listen to the 1949 recording by Jacob do Bandolim using the same procedure as mentioned above clicking here
Here's a contemporary reading of 'Lingua de preto' performed by a choro ensemble from the conservatory of Pernambuco, cavaquinho is playing lead

Finally, from a roda de choro recently at the Bandolim de Ouro music shop in Rio da Janeiro featuring Bruno Rian playing the solo on bandolim

Jo

2 Comments:

Anonymous Hans said...

Thanks Jo.

I have this tune, lingua de preto
in a version by Jacob do Bandolim and Garoto (1949) and Turibio Santos and Henrique Cazes trio and
Henrique Cazes Conjunto Familia Vilao ( 1990s)

Great stuff.

Hans

01 April, 2009  
Blogger Jo said...

NB! Regarding the 1st of April: the translating of the title 'Lingua de preto' into English means approximately 'nonsense speak in a good humored way', an appropate dictum according the 1st of April, I think. Further, the performance of the choro always seems to leave available space for what it's all about -: celebration of the good times (- even during hard times as at present, worldwide) through a friendly competition between the players of the choro conjunto. Another word for this in Portuguese is 'malicia', that reveals the true spirit of choro.

Jo

01 April, 2009  

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