Donga | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Ernesto Joaquim Maria dos Santos |
Born | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | April 5, 1890
Died | August 25, 1974 84) Rio de Janeiro | (aged
Genres | Samba |
Instruments | |
Years active | 1916–1953 |
Ernesto Joaquim Maria dos Santos, most known as Donga, (April 5, 1890 – August 25, 1974) was a Brazilian guitarist and composer. He composed what is considered the first recorded samba, the 1916 song Pelo Telefone. [1]
Donga was born in Rio de Janeiro, the son of Pedro Joaquim Maria and Amélia Silvana de Araújo; he had eight siblings. His father was a bricklayer and played the euphonium in his spare time; his mother was the known Tia Amélia from the group of tias baianas of Cidade Nova and liked to sing modinhas and promoted countless parties. [2]
He participated in the musical gatherings at the home of Tia Ciata, alongside João da Baiana, Pixinguinha, Hilário Jovino Ferreira and others. A big fan of Mário Cavaquinho, he started playing that instrument by ear, at the age of 14. Shortly afterwards he learned to play the guitar, studying with Quincas Laranjeiras. In November 1916 he registered in the National Library of Brazil the recording of Pelo Telefone, considered the first recorded samba in history. [1]
He organized with Pixinguinha the Orquestra Típica Donga-Pixinguinha. In 1919, together with Pixinguinha and six other musicians, he joined, as a guitarist, the group Oito Batutas, which toured Europe in 1922.
In 1926 he joined the band Carlito Jazz band. [3] In 1940 Donga recorded nine compositions (among sambas, toadas, macumbas and lundus) from the album Native Brazilian Music , organized by two conductors: Leopold Stokowski and Heitor Villa-Lobos, released in the United States by Columbia. [1]
At the end of the 50s he returned to perform with the group Velha Guarda, in shows organized by Almirante .
In 1932 Donga married Zaíra de Oliveira, also a musician, with whom he had a daughter, Lígia. Zaíra died in 1951; Donga married again in 1953 and went to live in the neighborhood of Aldeia Campista, where he retired as a retired bailiff. Sick and almost blind, he lived his last days at the Retiro dos Artistas, dying in 1974. He is buried in the São João Batista Cemetery. [4]
Elson Nascimento, most well known as a member of the Sun Ra Arkestra, is one of Donga's direct descendants. [5]
Samba, is a name or prefix used for several rhythmic variants, such as samba urbano carioca, samba de roda, recognized as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, amongst many other forms of Samba, mostly originated in the Rio de Janeiro and Bahia States. Samba is a broad term for many of the rhythms that compose the better known Brazilian music genres that originated in the Afro-Brazilian communities of Bahia in the late 19th century and early 20th century, having continued its development on the communities of Rio de Janeiro in the early 20th century. Having its roots in the Afro-Brazilian Candomblé, as well as other Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous folk traditions, such as the traditional Samba de Caboclo, it is considered one of the most important cultural phenomena in Brazil and one of the country's symbols. Present in the Portuguese language at least since the 19th century, the word "samba" was originally used to designate a "popular dance". Over time, its meaning has been extended to a "batuque-like circle dance", a dance style, and also to a "music genre". This process of establishing itself as a musical genre began in the 1910s and it had its inaugural landmark in the song "Pelo Telefone", launched in 1917. Despite being identified by its creators, the public, and the Brazilian music industry as "samba", this pioneering style was much more connected from the rhythmic and instrumental point of view to maxixe than to samba itself.
The music of Brazil encompasses various regional musical styles influenced by European, American, African and Amerindian forms. Brazilian music developed some unique and original styles such as forró, repente, coco de roda, axé, sertanejo, samba, bossa nova, MPB, música nativista, pagode, tropicália, choro, maracatu, embolada, frevo, brega, modinha and Brazilian versions of foreign musical styles, such as rock, pop music, soul, hip-hop, disco music, country music, ambient, industrial and psychedelic music, rap, classical music, fado, and gospel.
Francisco Buarque de Hollanda, popularly known simply as Chico Buarque, is a Brazilian singer-songwriter, guitarist, composer, playwright, writer, and poet. He is best known for his music, which often includes social, economic, and cultural reflections on Brazil.
Marcus Vinícius da Cruz e Mello Moraes, better known as Vinícius de Moraes and nicknamed O Poetinha, was a Brazilian poet, diplomat, lyricist, essayist, musician, singer, and playwright. With his frequent and diverse musical partners, including Antônio Carlos Jobim, his lyrics and compositions were instrumental in the birth and introduction to the world of bossa nova music. He recorded numerous albums, many in collaboration with noted artists, and also served as a successful Brazilian career diplomat.
Choro, also popularly called chorinho, is an instrumental Brazilian popular music genre which originated in 19th century Rio de Janeiro. Despite its name, the music often has a fast and happy rhythm. It is characterized by virtuosity, improvisation and subtle modulations, and is full of syncopation and counterpoint. Choro is considered the first characteristically Brazilian genre of urban popular music. The serenaders who play choros are known as chorões.
Alfredo da Rocha Viana Filho, known as Pixinguinha was a Brazilian composer, arranger, flautist and saxophonist born in Rio de Janeiro. Pixinguinha composed popular music, particularly within the genre of music known as choro.
Jorge Mário da Silva, more commonly known by his stage name Seu Jorge, is a Brazilian musical artist, songwriter, and actor. He is considered by many a renewer of Brazilian pop samba. Seu Jorge cites samba schools and American soul singer Stevie Wonder as major musical influences. Jorge is also known for his film roles as Mané Galinha in the 2002 film City of God and as Pelé dos Santos in the 2004 film The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. His musical work has received praise from many of his fellow musicians including Beck and David Bowie.
Clara Nunes was a Brazilian samba and MPB singer, considered one of the greatest of her generation. She was the first female singer in Brazil to sell over 100,000 copies of a record, with "Tristeza Pé No Chão" and her achievements in the samba genre earned her the title of "Queen of Samba".
Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira, better known as Simone, is a Brazilian singer of Música Popular Brasileira (MPB) who has recorded more than 30 albums.
Clementina de Jesus was a Brazilian samba singer born in Valença, Brazil.
The Grêmio Recreativo Escola de Samba Portela from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is a traditional samba school. Founded in 1923, it has the highest number of wins in the top-tier Rio parade, with 22 titles in total, including the 2017 Carnival parade.
Yvonne Lara da Costa, better known as Dona Ivone Lara, was a Brazilian singer and composer.
João Theodoro Meirelles, better known as J. T. Meirelles, is a Brazilian saxophonist and flautist. He was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and died at 67 years old in that same city. Meirelles is considered one of the creators of the samba-jazz rhythm, along with Manfredo Fest.
Pedra do Sal is a historic and religious site in Rio de Janeiro, in the neighborhood of Saúde. The site was originally a quilombo village. An association group still lives there, formally known as the Community Descendents of the Quilombos of Pedra do Sal. The site was recognised in 1984 by INEPAC, the Institute for State Cultural Heritage.
"No Tabuleiro da Baiana" is a samba written in 1936 by Ary Barroso and recorded by Carmen Miranda.
Tia Ciata, born Hilária Batista de Almeida (1854–1924) was a Brazilian cook, mãe-de-santo of Candomblé, and an influential figure in the development of samba. She was born in Santo Amaro, Bahia, and initiated in Candomblé in Salvador by Bangboshe Obitikô. She was a devotee of deity Oshun and became the iyakekerê, or second most important leader, in the terreiro of João Alabá in Rio de Janeiro. "Ciata", the name by which she is now known, is a variant on the Arabic name Aycha; it was a common feminine name among the Muslim community from Portuguese Guinea that formerly resided in Rio de Janeiro.
Dance of Time is a 2017 studio album by Brazilian jazz musician Eliane Elias. The album was recorded in Brazil and released on March 24, 2017 via Concord Records. This is her 25th album as a leader. Dance of Time received the Latin Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album at the 18th Annual Latin Grammy Awards.
Heitor dos Prazeres was a Brazilian composer, singer and painter. He was a pioneer samba composer and participated in the first samba schools in Brazil. Later in life he became known by his paintings.
Mário Lago OMC was a Brazilian lawyer, poet, broadcaster, composer and actor.