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Jubileu 3:230:00/3:23
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Batuque 5:140:00/5:14
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Remexendo 2:390:00/2:39
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0:00/3:35
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Lamentos do Morro 4:400:00/4:40
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Os Boêmios 2:340:00/2:34
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Um Choro Feliz 2:370:00/2:37
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Nó Na Garganta 2:040:00/2:04
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Choro Moreno 2:320:00/2:32
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0:00/1:57
New School Brazilian Choro Ensemble
Concert Highlights
Among all the diverse Brazilian genres Boukas has performed, composed, researched, taught and written about, it is Choro (Brazil's unique genre of popular chamber music) which he has explored most extensively.
Founded by Boukas in 2008, New School Brazilian Choro Ensemble is likely the only Brazilian music its kind among universities in North America. Achieving the highest professional level of performance practice, authenticity and arrangements, the group's expansive repertoire (all arranged by Boukas) features a 140-year span of Choro composers beginning with seminal nationalists Ernesto Nazareth, Chiquinha Gonzaga and Anacleto de Medeiros, to twentieth century icons Pixinguinha, Jacob do Bandolim, Garôto and Radamés Gnattali, to contemporary masters Hermeto Pascoal and Guinga. Also featured are adaptations of his own compositions.
Boukas's source materials for his arrangements include meticulous transcriptions of legendary recordings, out-of-print published editions and composer autograph scores from archival research conducted in Brazil, and extensive experience scoring for a variety of chamber ensembles. The arrangements capture the rich contrapuntal and accompaniment textures which distill choro regional (small ensemble) performance practice over several generations. With Boukas as educator-mentor-guitarist, the student ensemble members assimilate the critically sensitive aspects of elastic phrasing, articulation, vocal lyricism and ensemble symbiosis which elevates their technical skills and artistic acumen for playing all Brazilian musical genres, classical repertoire and jazz. Aside from full ensemble rehearsals, there are concurrent sectionals for both guitarists and woodwinds.
The acoustic-based ensemble instrumentation is: three woodwinds (flute, soprano saxophone and doubling chair), three guitars (six and seven-string, cavaquinho), five-string electric bass and drums/percussion. Boukas is a performing member of the ensemble, setting the high professional level and dedication essential to performing this repertoire with polish and authenticity.
In fall 2013, the ensemble presented two performances– at the New School Jazz Performance Space and at Queens College/Aaron Copland School of Music as part of their Year of Brazil celebration. The program paid special tribute to seminal choro composer ERNESTO NAZARETH, celebrating the 150th anniversary of his birth. There is a comprehensive NAZARETH SITE which has biographical information and an extensive collection of recordings by piece. The site was created by the illustrious Brazilian cultural organization, Instituto Moreira Salles.
DOWNLOAD PROGRAM AND NOTES
In December 2014, the ensemble presented its most ambitious program to date, PIXINGUINHA AND CONTEMPORARIES. Featuring eighteen new Boukas arrangements of works by Pixinguinha and other central choro composers,the program received two premiere performances: Mannes College Recital Hall and New School Jazz Performance Space. Visit the dedicated page for complete video, recordings and program notes,
Founded by Boukas in 2008, New School Brazilian Choro Ensemble is likely the only Brazilian music its kind among universities in North America. Achieving the highest professional level of performance practice, authenticity and arrangements, the group's expansive repertoire (all arranged by Boukas) features a 140-year span of Choro composers beginning with seminal nationalists Ernesto Nazareth, Chiquinha Gonzaga and Anacleto de Medeiros, to twentieth century icons Pixinguinha, Jacob do Bandolim, Garôto and Radamés Gnattali, to contemporary masters Hermeto Pascoal and Guinga. Also featured are adaptations of his own compositions.
Boukas's source materials for his arrangements include meticulous transcriptions of legendary recordings, out-of-print published editions and composer autograph scores from archival research conducted in Brazil, and extensive experience scoring for a variety of chamber ensembles. The arrangements capture the rich contrapuntal and accompaniment textures which distill choro regional (small ensemble) performance practice over several generations. With Boukas as educator-mentor-guitarist, the student ensemble members assimilate the critically sensitive aspects of elastic phrasing, articulation, vocal lyricism and ensemble symbiosis which elevates their technical skills and artistic acumen for playing all Brazilian musical genres, classical repertoire and jazz. Aside from full ensemble rehearsals, there are concurrent sectionals for both guitarists and woodwinds.
The acoustic-based ensemble instrumentation is: three woodwinds (flute, soprano saxophone and doubling chair), three guitars (six and seven-string, cavaquinho), five-string electric bass and drums/percussion. Boukas is a performing member of the ensemble, setting the high professional level and dedication essential to performing this repertoire with polish and authenticity.
In fall 2013, the ensemble presented two performances– at the New School Jazz Performance Space and at Queens College/Aaron Copland School of Music as part of their Year of Brazil celebration. The program paid special tribute to seminal choro composer ERNESTO NAZARETH, celebrating the 150th anniversary of his birth. There is a comprehensive NAZARETH SITE which has biographical information and an extensive collection of recordings by piece. The site was created by the illustrious Brazilian cultural organization, Instituto Moreira Salles.
DOWNLOAD PROGRAM AND NOTES
In December 2014, the ensemble presented its most ambitious program to date, PIXINGUINHA AND CONTEMPORARIES. Featuring eighteen new Boukas arrangements of works by Pixinguinha and other central choro composers,the program received two premiere performances: Mannes College Recital Hall and New School Jazz Performance Space. Visit the dedicated page for complete video, recordings and program notes,
AUDIO PLAYER EXCERPTS
Excerpts from the ensemble's Ernesto Nazareth Tribute Concert is featured in the audio player above.
Click << or >> to listen to the desired track:
1. Jubileu (Anacleto de Medeiros)
2. Batuque (Ernesto Nazareth)
3. Remexendo (Radamés Gnattali)
4. Apanhei-te, Cavaquinho (Nazareth)
5. Lamentos do Morro (Garôto)
6. Os Boêmios (Anacleto de Medeiros)
7. Um Choro Feliz (Mário Laginha)
8. Nó Na Garganta (Guinga)
9. Choro Moreno (Mané Silveira)
10. Bach Prelude Revisited (Bach/Boukas)
DOWNLOAD
CHORO ENSEMBLE REPERTOIRE LIST
CURRENT ENSEMBLE MEMBERS:
Kana Miyamoto flute
Jasper Dutz woodwinds
Manuel Canchola woodwinds
Filipe Duarte guitar, cavaco
Richard Boukas, guitar, cavaco, mandolin
Kieran McAuliffe, seven-string guitar
Sigmar Matthiasson bass
Nathan Colbert drums, percussion
VISIT PIXINGUINHA AND CONTEMPORARIES
For more about the New School Brazilian Choro Ensemble, repertoire, source recordings and other aspects:
CONTACT RICHARD BOUKAS
Other special ensembles and projects:
• Pixinguinha and Contemporaries
• New School Brazilian Jazz Ensemble
• música mineira project
• Brazilian choral project
• Queens College Year of Brazil
CONTACT RICHARD BOUKAS
Other special ensembles and projects:
• Pixinguinha and Contemporaries
• New School Brazilian Jazz Ensemble
• música mineira project
• Brazilian choral project
• Queens College Year of Brazil