Capoera In Brazil

The explosive movement, sport like agility and fluidity make up the ritualistic martial art form traditionally performed ritualized combat that is disguised as a dance and it includes martial arts, acrobatics and music in Brazil. West Africans originated Capoeira as early as the seventeenth century through slavery, but was forbidden to be practiced due to the threat it posed for slave owners. The art form was born as a hope for survival and freedom as slaves faced unknown hostiles while they tried to escape (Roxborough, p. 59, 2011). The early history of capoeira is still controversial as to where exactly its first beginnings in Brazil are rooted, especially the period between the 1600’s and the beginning of the 19th century, part of this

Music is no stranger to the dance form capoeira with the tanglement rhythmic patterns of high and low pitches, the berimbau a single-string musical bow struck with a stick and played with a caxixi (shaker), is representative of the practice (Grove Online Music: Capoeira, 2014). The heritage of Brazil plays heavy roles in how this art form is perceived by the capoeiristas and how the form is understood. Music of capoeira is exercised to generate a sacred space through the somatic and mental act of forming a circle (the roda). The berimbau is a musical instrument from Africa used in rituals. Traditionalist capoeira groups typically include pandeiros (small frame drums), atabaque (cylindrical drum), agogô (double bell gong) and reco-reco (scraper). Musicians assert the touch of each instrument to determine the quality and tone of the player’s interaction. Capoeira is a martial art form that requires musical accompaniment. In these practices, the berimbau is the lead instrument and the others are accompanist of it; all other instruments follow the speed and rhythm of the berimbau. Cristina Rosa explains, “the role of music in capoeira as well as the power relations exercised between players and musicians during a capoeira event are vital to the understanding of this multifaceted practice as a whole” (Rosa, Playing, Fighting, and Dancing, 2012). Depending on the how the musicians play the dancers must change their tempo and strategy to match the musical tone. Lyrics of capoeira music speak of historical figures, events, and even lessons that can speak directly to the performers or give instructional movement and insight. Capoeira, without its musical accompaniment, would be a different