Levine Presents | Brazilian Choro: The Musical World of Pixinguinha

Explore the imaginative and intriguing melodies of Brazilian choro with an evening celebrating the genre’s most influential composer, Alfredo da Rocha Viana Filho, also known as Pixinguinha. Alongside a remarkable guest ensemble, faculty member Ceylon Mitchell guides us through this Afro-Brazilian genre as we sample some of the most famous choros composed by Pixinguinha and his contemporaries.

About Brazilian Choro
Choro emerged as a distinct musical genre around the middle of the 19th Century in Rio de Janeiro as a blend of Afrodiasporic and European musical styles in newly independent Brazil. Syncopated rhythms from Africa and popular dance forms from Europe (the polka, habanera, and more) melded together to create a unique new style, which often gives the lead and highly ornamented melody to the flute, harmonically supported by guitar and cavaquinho. Percussive accompaniment often comes from the pandeiro, a Brazilian frame drum similar to a tambourine. Though choros are frequently instrumental and improvisatory, they do feature lyrics from time to time. 

Featuring: Ceylon Mitchell, flute; Seth Kibel, sax; Pablo Regis de Oliveira, cavaquinho; Felipe Garibaldi, guitar; Lucas Ashby, percussion; and André Coelho, percussion

Levine Music gratefully acknowledges the support of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and all our generous donors.