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Bossa Nova

Bossa Nova, directly translated to “New Trend” originated in Brazil in the late 1950s. The genre of music itself is not far to jazz, except was typically known for the relaxing melodies fused with syncopated rhythms. There are two main iconic fathers of this genre of music, Antônio Carlos Jobim, a gifted composer, pianist, singer, guitarist and composer born in 1927 and died in 94’, and João Gilberto, a singer and guitarist born in 1931 and died in 2019. In the 1960s, Bossa Nova popularised and was starting to internationally but mainly in the United States. (n.a, 2018)

Extract 1: The Girl from Ipanema

Dynamics:

  • Pianissimo (PP) - (0:00 - 2:36)

  • Subito Piano (P) - (2:36 - 4:20)

  • Subito Mezzo Forte (MF) on the saxophone - (4:20)

  • Piano (P) - (4:22 - 5:21)

The Girl From Ipanema by Antonio Carlos Jobim (1927-1994) 

The Girl from Ipanema is known to be Jobim’s most iconic Bossa Nova piece. In 1965, this piece was awarded Grammy for record of the year and has been used in a variety of movies dating since 1986. (Getz & Gilberto, n.d.)

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=c5QfXjsoNe4

Tonality:

  • Section A is in F Major Consonant harmonies built from F Major scale and influenced by Jazz harmonies

  • Restful and peaceful tone achieved (achieved with major 7 chords - coloured harmonies influenced by Jazz, e.g. Gb7b5)

  • At bar 9, Section B modulates to unrelated keys, moving through the chords of Gbmaj7, Cb7, F#m7,

Tempo:

  • 120 Bpm - Allegro (0:00 - 5:21)

Duration:

  • Simple quadruple Meter (4/4 time Signature)

  • Syncopated Rhythms

Timbre:

  • Voices:

  • Vocals (Male & Female)

  • Membranophones:

    • Percussion (Drums)

  • Chordophones: 

    • Acoustic Guitar

    • Classic Piano

Structure:

  • Introduction from 0:00-0:22

  • Strophic Structure

    • Melodic and rhythmic ostinati

Melody:

0:19 - 0:35 - Melodic ostinato in the main theme

0:51-1:12 - three repeated melodic conjunct phrases in a rising sequence

1:12-1:20 - Rising and falling melodic contour; falling sequence

Texture:

  • Monodic lead Male Vocals (0:00 - 1:22)

  • Monodic female lead vocals (1:22 - 2:36)

  • Instrumental leading melody (saxophone) with drum accompaniment (2:36 - 3:49)

  • Instrumental leading melody (piano) with drums accompaniment (3:49 - 4:19)

  • Monodic female lead vocals (4:19 - 5:21)

Extract 2: Corcovado

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W47F2MJDT28

Dynamics:

  • Dynamics stay constant at mezzo piano (mp), except when the strings enter (0:56-1:30) which changes the dynamics to mezzo forte (mf)

Tempo:​

  • Constant Moderato tempo

Tonality:​

  • Diatonic Minor

  • Consonant Harmonies

Melody:

Introductory melody presented by different instruments: starting on the flute, then the violins and then the piano (0:00-0:40)

The main theme is presented on the piano as a single melody which is phrased in antecedent and consequent phrases (0:25-0:55) and also features falling melodic sequences on the violins (0:55-1:09)

  • Conjunct melody

    • Played on different instruments

      • Piano, Flute, Violins/Violas

  • Call and Response between strings, piano and flute (0:00 - 0:39)

  • Countermelodies between violins and piano (1:12-1:32)

  • Arpeggios down pitch on strings (0:23-0:38)

  • Rising and falling contour on the strings (0:56-1:08)

Texture:

  • Monophonic intro (flute) (0:00-0:03)

  • Mainly polyphonic with melodies and countermelodies

  • Accompaniment of drums and bass

  • Rhythmic Ostinato on the percussion (Fig.09)

  • Chordal picking on the acoustic guitar

Timbre:

  • Flute, Drums, Acoustic Guitar, Double Bass, Piano, Strings 

 

Structure:

  • Strophic

0:00 - 0:25 --- Introduction

 

Melodic Structure:

Melody starts at: 0.25-0:55

  • Phrase a (2 note motif), a, b

  • Phrase c (derivative of a, but transposed up (3 semitones) From E to G

 

At 0:56 it’s a repeat of 0:25-0:55 but down an 8ve - timbral variation

At 1:12 to 1:25, 3 falling sequences on the piano

1:31 Repeat of intro but this time with added instruments and more texture where instead of only the flute, drums, the piano, the acoustic guitar, the double bass and violins are incorporated. 

 

Altered harmonies with minor 6th, 7th, 7th(flat 9th) and diminished 7th for example, Fm6, Em7, Gb7(b9), G#dim7(b9). 

Common Musical Features of Culture 2

As the investigation unfolded, the common musical features found in both extracts for culture 2 are as follows:

​

​

Consonant Harmonies

Melodic ostinato in the main theme

Conjunct melodic phrases

Rising and falling melodic contour, falling sequences

Similar timbral choices

Strophic structure

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