Music of the World - Part 1

Around the world, I had the opportunity to get familiar with many different types of music styles. This is a very rich aspect of different societies and one way to distinguish them. Take Brazil, for instance: The country was heavily influenced by a mix of African and European styles plus a little something of what Native Americans previously had. The fusion produced incredible results and among them is the well known Bossa Nova song called The Girl from Ipanema composed by Antônio Carlos Jobim (or simply Tom Jobim).

More than that, Samba, Choro, and MPB (Brazilian Popular Music) are among the most traditional genres and the Wikipedia article about the country’s music covers all of them with great detail and richness.

One Brazilian music style that is missing there, though, is called Pife, named after the instrument, a kind of flute. It has a controversial origin often attributed to Native Americans of Brazil. Carlos Malta (Official web site in Portuguese) is a singer that is doing a remarkable work of bringing back the Pife under the label of “Modern Pife”. His compositions include famous Brazilian songs performed almost solely with the instrument. His style is very unique and very creative; his concert is a must-see if the opportunity comes.

Going up from Brazil to Mexico, Lila Downs is the name that comes to my mind. I went to her concert in Washington DC last year and I simply have no words to describe what I felt there. Her music is powerful and yet touches the heart with the rich Mexican culture.

She is well-known in Brazil because of the Academy Award winner song Burn it Blue for the movie Frida, performed with Caetano Veloso, a prestigious Brazilian MPB composer and singer.

Back to Bossa Nova, it is necessary to highlight the work of the American jazz musician Stan Getz. He is responsible for the recording of the English version of The Girl from Ipanema with Tom Jobim, João Gilberto and his wife, Astrud Gilberto - the song that won a Grammy Award.

The box-set called The Girl From Ipanema: The Bossa Nova Years is beautifully performed during what is probably one of the best moments of his career. It includes many of the classical Brazilian Bossa Nova songs and provides endless enjoyment.

In the US, the mix of genres is perhaps best shown nowadays through the distinctive voice of the leading vocal of Pink Martini, China Forbes. The band’s songs include genres of music as Latin, lounge, classical, and jazz.


Sympathique music clip

My favorite is Sympathique from their debut album with the same name. The song with French lyrics is original, erudite, soft, and passionate. Truly one of the best songs I’ve heard.

Speaking of the French, the Amélie soundtrack composer, Yann Tiensen, also deserves mention here. He is a multi-instrumentalist very versatile and intense. His songs follow a running heart beat.


Monochrome by Yann Tiersen (playing the piano)

In Europe, beyond explanations are the rock bands U2, Keane, and Scorpions to name a few that range from pop to hard rock. HIM, a Finnish alternative rock band, is also doing a good job and is the first and only rock band in Finland to sell Gold in the United States.

I know I’m in India right now but I can’t really recommend anything yet. If you go through the YouTube video clips of Indian bands, you’ll find very weird and funny stuff – clearly not what I am looking for.

I’ve already seen some dance presentations and they all include traditional music that I still don’t know how to classify. Again, the Wikipedia article about Indian Music is very rich and detailed – a good starting point.

I will cover the Asian Pacific music with more detail in a later post. I know I’ve missed a lot of great songs and artists but this is the resemblance of my experience and feelings towards the music I’ve been living with.