REG

Folk Traditions

Since 1800Where Every regionSubgenres 15Artists 36

The music that lives in festivals, terreiros and circles: frevo and maracatu in Pernambuco, coco, ciranda and repente in the Northeast, jongo in the Southeast, catira, chamamé, siriri and cururu in the Centre-West, caiçara fandango on the coast of the South and São Paulo, gaúcho music, bumba-meu-boi, marchinhas and the rhythms of capoeira.

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If you like folk music and popular festivals, here are the country's liveliest.

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1960Coração de LutoTeixeirinha
1899Ó Abre AlasChiquinha Gonzaga
1949Chiquita BacanaBraguinha
1978Bandeira de AçoPapete
1900ParanauêDomínio público
1909VassourinhasMatias da Rocha e Joana Batista

Subgenres

Frevo

Since 1907 · 6 artists

UNESCO intangible heritage · 2012

The frantic rhythm of Recife and Olinda carnival, with colourful umbrellas; UNESCO heritage.

Alceu Valença Antonio Nóbrega Capiba Nelson Ferreira Lenine & Suzano Spok Frevo Orquestra

Maracatu

Since 1800 · 3 artists

Maracatu nações with alfaia drums and an Afro-Brazilian royal procession; the base of manguebeat.

Maracatu Nação Leão Coroado Maracatu Nação Estrela Brilhante Mestre Salustiano

Coco and ciranda

Since 1900 · 4 artists

Circle songs of the northeastern coast: Jackson do Pandeiro, Lia de Itamaracá, Selma do Coco.

Jackson do Pandeiro Lia de Itamaracá Caju & Castanha Selma do Coco

Repente and cantoria

Since 1800 · 2 artists

Rhymed improvisation of duelling viola singers; Brazil's original rap battle.

Mestre Salustiano Caju & Castanha

Jongo

Since 1800 · 2 artists

Brazilian heritage · IPHAN 2005

A circle dance with Bantu-rooted drums and riddling songs, from the Paraíba Valley to Rio; one of samba's roots. Jongo da Serrinha.

Clementina de Jesus Jongo da Serrinha

Afro-Brazilian chants

Since 1800 · 3 artists

Vissungos and terreiro chants keep African languages alive; Clementina de Jesus and Os Tincoãs took them to record.

Clementina de Jesus Mateus Aleluia Os Tincoãs

Catira / cateretê

Since 1800 · 0 artists

A caipira dance of handclaps and foot-stamping to the viola, alive in Goiás, Minas and rural São Paulo.

Chamamé

Since 1930 · 1 artists

An accordion rhythm from the Argentina and Paraguay border, strong in Mato Grosso do Sul and Rio Grande do Sul.

Renato Borghetti

Siriri and cururu

Since 1800 · 1 artists

Dances and songs with viola de cocho and ganzá in the Cuiabá lowlands of Mato Grosso.

Flor Ribeirinha

Caiçara fandango

Since 1800 · 1 artists

Brazilian heritage · IPHAN 2012

Dances with viola, rabeca and wooden clogs in the caiçara communities of the Paraná and São Paulo coast.

Mandicuera

Gaúcho / nativist music

Since 1950 · 7 artists

Button accordion, vanerão and chamamé: Teixeirinha, Gaúcho da Fronteira, Renato Borghetti, Luiz Marenco.

Yamandu Costa Teixeirinha Gaúcho da Fronteira Renato Borghetti Os Serranos Baitaca Luiz Marenco

Tchê music

Since 1992 · 2 artists

1990s pop vanerão for dance halls: Tchê Garotos, Tchê Barbaridade.

Tchê Garotos Tchê Barbaridade

Carnival marchinhas

Since 1899 · 8 artists

From 'Ó Abre Alas' (1899) to Lamartine Babo and Braguinha: Rio's street carnival.

Carmen Miranda Lamartine Babo Braguinha Emilinha Borba Marlene André Filho Carlos Galhardo Jararaca

Bumba-meu-boi and boi-bumbá

Since 1800 · 4 artists

UNESCO intangible heritage · 2019

Maranhão and the Parintins Festival (Garantido vs Caprichoso) in Amazonas; UNESCO heritage.

Boi Caprichoso Boi Garantido Carrapicho Papete

Capoeira

Since 1800 · 2 artists

UNESCO intangible heritage · 2014

Berimbau, atabaque and pandeiro lead the circle; Mestre Bimba and Mestre Pastinha.

Mestre Bimba Mestre Pastinha

Essential albums 1

1996
Festa do Boi Bumbá
Carrapicho
The album of "Tic, Tic, Tac", certified platinum.

Bumba-meu-boi and boi-bumbá

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