BRATTLEBORO — The Brattleboro Concert Choir will present Carlos Fonseca's groundbreaking work, the Missa Afro-Brasiliera on Saturday, Jan. 15, at 7:30 p.m., and again on Sunday, Jan. 16, at 3 p.m. at St. Michael's Catholic Church on Walnut Street.
The Missa Afro-Brasiliera was composed in 1976, when it won the “Best Vocal Work” prize of the Associação dos Críticos de São Paulo. Composer Carlos Fonseca had this to say about the Missa: “I have tried to abolish barriers between sacred, classical, traditional, and popular music and tried to portray the impulse and warmth of the Brazilian people. Brazil means contrast, mixture, the new, side by side with the old."
Fonseca uses traditional Brazilian music as the core of the piece: maracatu, marchos and many kinds of sambas. One might easily equate the hip-gliding samba with the festive Carnaval parade in Rio, but rarely with the setting of a choral classic. Yet the extraordinary music of the Missa Afro-Brasiliera captures the fusion of religion and music that is uniquely Brazilian, and the samba weaves and dances through the piece side by side with ecstatic African rhythms and sweet barrio songs.
The samba is a dance of African origin that, according to some sources, means, “a blow struck with the belly button”. But among its various definitions, samba also means “to pray.” “Samba is said by traditional Brazilian musicians to be from God”, says chorus director Susan Dedell.
The history of samba music plays an important role in Brazilian culture, musical and otherwise. Beginning in the 16th century, Brazil was the destination of the largest importation of slaves in recorded history, mostly from West African.
Many West African belief systems involved becoming one with a personal god, who became the individual's protector and helper. As this was seen as similar to the colonial Portuguese view of Christian saints, the slaves were allowed to form a blended faith, which is today known as Candomblé.
However, some African religious practices were outlawed, one of which was dancing as a part of worship. Rather than abandon this essential element of worship, the slaves concealed sacred dancing by disguising it as a party.
As late as the early 20th century, the police often raided suspect parties of samba dancers. These days, the need for secrecy is past, but the dancing and singing of samba music remains an essential part of Brazilian life. The Missa Afro-Brasiliera is a unique testament to this vibrant musical and spiritual legacy, where “a party is made up of beautiful prayers” and faith and pure fun mingle with abandon.
The Brattleboro Concert Choir will be joined by soloists Margery McCrum, soprano; Jennifer Hansen, alto, and Peter Shea, tenor. Tickets ($15 general, $10 students) can be purchased by calling the BMC at 802-257-4523 or by visiting www.bmcvt.org.