Composer

:

Heitor Villa-Lobos

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1938

Average_duration

:

2:27

Lundú da Marqueza de Santos, A. 365/2 is a composition by the Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos. It was composed in 1955 and premiered in Rio de Janeiro in the same year. The piece is part of Villa-Lobos' Bachianas Brasileiras, a series of nine suites that combine elements of Brazilian folk music with the contrapuntal techniques of Johann Sebastian Bach. The Lundú da Marqueza de Santos is the second movement of the fifth suite, which was composed for voice and eight cellos. The piece is based on the lundú, a popular dance of African origin that was popular in Brazil during the colonial period. The lyrics of the piece are in Portuguese and describe the beauty and grace of the Marqueza de Santos, a famous Brazilian courtesan of the 19th century. The piece begins with a slow, mournful melody played by the cellos, which is then joined by the voice. The melody is based on the pentatonic scale, which is common in many forms of traditional Brazilian music. The voice sings the lyrics in a simple, straightforward manner, with little ornamentation or embellishment. As the piece progresses, the tempo gradually increases and the cellos become more rhythmic and percussive. The voice becomes more animated and expressive, with occasional bursts of virtuosity. The piece reaches a climax with a series of rapid-fire vocalizations and a final flourish from the cellos. Overall, the Lundú da Marqueza de Santos is a beautiful and haunting piece that showcases Villa-Lobos' unique blend of Brazilian folk music and classical technique. Its use of the lundú, a dance with roots in African culture, also highlights the important role that African music and culture have played in the development of Brazilian music.

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