Styles of Samba
There are many different styles of Samba. Here are a few of the most popular.
Samba de Roda originated from Bahia, in the region of Recôncavo, during the seventeenth century. It drew heavily on the cultural traditions of the region’s enslaved Afro-Brazilians who gathered to sing, dance and play music. It is played and danced in a roda (circle). At first a major component of regional popular culture among Brazilians of African descent, Samba de Roda was eventually taken by migrants to Rio de Janeiro, where it influenced the evolution of the urban Samba that became a symbol of Brazilian national identity in the twentieth century. It is considered an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Brazil and is characterized by music sung and accompanied by hand drums and a lot of dance. It is also associated with Capoeira.
Partido Alto is close to its African origins. The instruments are well-identified, and the beats are strong and easy to follow. You can find Partido Alto within a (School of Samba) Bateria.
Samba de Enredo is inked to Carnaval, the rhythm emerged in Rio de Janeiro in the 1950s. Today, all samba school parades around Brazil present their themes sung by performers and played by a Bateria. The lyrics usually have social, historical, and cultural content.
Samba Carnavalesco differs from the Samba de Enredo because it is sung outside the samba schools' parades. Marchinhas (Marching Band music) sung in the blocos, such as "Abre Alas" and "Cidade Maravilhosa", make revelers follow the party, especially in cities where blocos are popular, such as Rio, São Paulo, and Ouro Preto.
Samba-Canção artists inclue Noel Rosa, Cartola and Ataulfo ​​Alves. Composed of romantic lyrics and a slower pace, it often speaks of loneliness, love, and relationships. It appeared in Rio in the late 1920s.
Samba Exaltação is the most vital characteristic of this style is patriotism (Brasil) and love for a School of Samba. A famous song is "Aquarela do Brasil" by Ary Barroso, released in 1939, and recorded by many other artists. Generally accompanied by orchestras. The lyrics praise the beauties of the country or a School of Samba.
Samba de Breque: Breques are pauses for speech. Interpreters of this style often include funny speeches in their songs, such as male behavior and daily life problems.
Samba Balanço mixes Samba with Bossa Nova (Brazilian Jazz). It emerged in the early 1960s in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo nightclubs. The composers started to include "swing" in their works, pleasing the young audience. Among the main representatives of this subgenre is Jorge Ben Jor.
Samba Pagode - The words "Samba" and "Pagode" were created before the commercial music industry. "Pagode" was the name Black Brazilians gave to a party where people danced, ate, sang, talked and played music. Pagode as we know it today developed in the late 1970’a, with the advent of the band Fundo de Quintal and the introduction of new instruments in the classical samba formation. Pagode lyricism also represented a kind of evolution toward the tradition of malicious and ironic samba lyrics, with a much heavier use of slang and underground terms. The instruments for Pagode include The typical instruments for Pagode are Pandeiro, Cavaquinho, Tamborim, Tantan, Repique de Mâo, Cuica, Ganza and Vocals.