The Brazilian berimbau, a musical bow, is most commonly associated with the energetic martial art/dance/game of capoeira. This study explores the berimbau’s stature from the 1950s to the present in diverse musical genres including bossa nova, samba-reggae, MPB (Popular Brazilian Music), electronic dance music, Brazilian art music, and more. Berimbau music spans oral and recorded historical traditions, connects Latin America to Africa, juxtaposes the sacred and profane, and unites nationally constructed notions of Brazilian identity across seemingly impenetrable barriers.
The Berimbau: Soul of Brazilian Music is the first work that considers the berimbau beyond the context of capoeira, and explores the bow’s emergence as a national symbol. Throughout, this book engages and analyzes intersections of musical traditions in the Black Atlantic, North American popular music, and the rise of global jazz. This book is an accessible introduction to Brazilian music for musicians, Latin American scholars, capoeira practitioners, and other people who are interested in Brazil’s music and culture.
Eric A. Galm is professor and chair of the Department of Music and codirector of the Center for Caribbean Studies at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. His work has appeared in edited collections such as Performing Brazil: Essays on Brazil, Identity, and the Performing Arts; Global Soundtracks: Worlds of Film Music; and Encyclopedia of Percussion. He was recognized as an Honorary Citizen of Itabira, Minas Gerais, for his research and service to regional musical traditions, which was supported by a Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation research grant.
