Partido Alto refers to a type of
samba
Samba (), also known as samba urbano carioca (''urban Carioca samba'') or simply samba carioca (''Carioca samba''), is a Brazilian music genre that originated in the Afro-Brazilian communities of Rio de Janeiro in the early 20th century. Havin ...
with a number of particularities. In the world of samba subgenres and in samba reunions, partido alto songs (informally called ''partidos'') can represent a time for improvisation and (humorous or not) disputes, besides a stronger singalong opportunity for the participants.
Partido Alto is also the name of a particular rhythm that is derived from the above-mentioned style of samba (especially in a jazz context). The rhythm is often played in samba, and is also the basis for the Partido Alto groove, in which more or all of the instruments accent this rhythm.
Characteristics
Regarding structure, Partido Alto differentiates itself from common samba in that it is usually divided in two main parts. One is the usually static refrain (''refrão''), which is sung by a choral, which often means everyone present in a samba performance. The other part is called the verses and is often soloed by one or more participants. There can frequently be two or more versers (''versadores''), and that usually means that they will be competing in some way, be it humorous or not.
Partido Alto's
harmony
In music, harmony is the process by which individual sounds are joined together or composed into whole units or compositions. Often, the term harmony refers to simultaneously occurring frequencies, pitches ( tones, notes), or chords. However ...
is traditionally in a
major
Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...
key
Key or The Key may refer to:
Common meanings
* Key (cryptography), a piece of information that controls the operation of a cryptography algorithm
* Key (lock), device used to control access to places or facilities restricted by a lock
* Key (map ...
, which is often understood as a more joyous type of harmony, matching the genre's somewhat euphoric nature. Percussivelly, it presents a peculiar
pandeiro
The pandeiro () is a type of hand frame drum popular in Brazil. The pandeiro is used in a number of Brazilian music forms, such as samba, choro, coco, and capoeira music.
The drumhead is tunable, and the rim holds metal jingles (''platinelas'') ...
beat, with strong use of a violent, dry snap created by hitting the center of the head with the palm of the hand; thus nylon-skinned pandeiros are more common here than in others genres, although Partido Alto uses organic-skins just as much. The name of the genre can, among other meanings, be understood as a reference to this percussive property; one of the possible literal translations would be "broken high", which could be thought of as "highly broken".
History
Partido Alto has its origins in the religious parties in rural communities where
jongo {{no footnotes, date=May 2016
Jongo, also known as ''caxambu'' or ''tabu'', is a dance and musical genre of black communities from southeast Brazil. It originated from the dances performed by slaves who worked at coffee plantations in the Paraíba ...
was played, a type of music very rooted in Africa, accompanied by drums called candongueiros, angumativas and caxambus. It has been present in samba from the beginning; there are songs which are considered partidos dated from the 1930s. There's a traditional
jongo {{no footnotes, date=May 2016
Jongo, also known as ''caxambu'' or ''tabu'', is a dance and musical genre of black communities from southeast Brazil. It originated from the dances performed by slaves who worked at coffee plantations in the Paraíba ...
nucleus around the
samba school
A samba school ( pt, Escola de samba) is a dancing, marching, and drumming (Samba Enredo) club. They practice and often perform in a huge square-Compound (enclosure), compounds ("quadras de samba") and are devoted to practicing and exhibiting sam ...
Império Serrano in Rio de Janeiro, which is active to this day. Thus it is no wonder that a very important artist in the genre, Aniceto do Império, came from there. He and Nilton Campolino released very late in their career, in 1977, their first record, when Aniceto counted 65 years. Other precursors of the music include
Candeia
Antônio Candeia Filho better known as Candeia (August 17, 1935 – November 16, 1978) was a Brazilian samba singer, songwriter, and musician.
Early life
Born in Rio de Janeiro to Antonia Candeio and Dona Maria, Antonio was a renowned flautist ...
and the legendary
Geraldo Babão from the samba-schools Portela and Salgueiro.
Further famous partido alto musicians include
Clementina de Jesus
Clementina de Jesus (February 7, 1901 – July 19, 1987) was a Brazilian samba singer born in Valença, Brazil.
Biography
Born in Carambita, a district on the outskirts of Valença, ,
Jovelina Pérola Negra
Jovelina Pérola Negra (July 21, 1944 – November 2, 1998), stage name of Jovelina Farias Belfort, was a Brazilian samba singer and songwriter. Known by her deep voice, she was a representative of the partido alto samba style, and considered a ...
,
Xangô da Mangueira,
Bezerra da Silva and
Candeia
Antônio Candeia Filho better known as Candeia (August 17, 1935 – November 16, 1978) was a Brazilian samba singer, songwriter, and musician.
Early life
Born in Rio de Janeiro to Antonia Candeio and Dona Maria, Antonio was a renowned flautist ...
; these can be thought of as the genre's roots. More recent musicians of the such as
Grupo Fundo de Quintal
Grupo Fundo de Quintal or simply Fundo de Quintal (''Backyard Group'', roughly) is a Brazilian Samba band formed in Rio de Janeiro at the end of the 1970s.
History
The founding members of Fundo de Quintal, Almir Guineto ( banjo/cavaco), Bira Pres ...
,
Zeca Pagodinho
Jessé Gomes da Silva Filho, known professionally as Zeca Pagodinho (, born February 4, 1959), is a Brazilian singer-songwriter working in the genres of samba and pagode.
Biography
Born in the neighborhood of Irajá, Rio de Janeiro, Zeca Pagodin ...
,
Almir Guineto
Almir de Souza Serra (12 July 1946 – 5 May 2017), better known by his stage name Almir Guineto, was a Brazilian sambista, singer and songwriter and instrumentalist, working in the genres of samba and pagode.
Biography
Guineto was director of t ...
, Trio Calafrio and
Arlindo Cruz
Arlindo Cruz (born September 14, 1958, birth name Arlindo Domingos da Cruz Filho) is a Brazilian musician and songwriter, working in the genre of samba and pagode. Arlindo took part in the most important formation of Grupo Fundo de Quintal, and i ...
are, among other things, exponents of the genre, although they don't restrain themselves to it.
Examples of prominent songs which can classified as partido alto are the famous "Não Vem (Assim Não Dá)", from the classic record "Quatro Grandes do Samba", where
Candeia
Antônio Candeia Filho better known as Candeia (August 17, 1935 – November 16, 1978) was a Brazilian samba singer, songwriter, and musician.
Early life
Born in Rio de Janeiro to Antonia Candeio and Dona Maria, Antonio was a renowned flautist ...
,
Elton Medeiros Elton may refer to:
Places
England
* Elton, Cambridgeshire (formerly Huntingdonshire), a village
** Elton Hall, a baronial hall
* Elton, Cheshire, a village and civil parish
* Elton, County Durham, a village and civil parish
* Elton, Derbyshire, ...
,
Nelson Cavaquinho
Nelson Cavaquinho (October 29, 1911 – February 18, 1986, birth name Nelson Antônio da Silva) was one of the most important singer/composers of samba. He is usually seen as a representative of the tragic aspects of samba thematics, with many son ...
and
Guilherme de Brito
Guilherme de Brito Bollhorst (January 3, 1922 – April 28, 2006), known as Guilherme de Brito, was a Brazilian '' sambista'', singer, songwriter, and painter.
Biography
Guilherme de Brito Bollhorst was born in Vila Isabel, a traditional neighbor ...
share the verses, and "Perdoa", by
Paulinho da Viola
Paulinho da Viola (born Paulo César Batista de Faria on 12 November 1942) () is a Brazilian '' sambista'', singer-songwriter, guitar, cavaquinho and mandolin player, known for his sophisticated harmonies and soft, gentle singing voice.
Biograph ...
, where he and Elton Medeiros share the verses.
Partido Alto has been documented in the
film of the same name by
Leon Hirszman.
Literature
*
Nei Lopes
Nei Braz Lopes (born May 9, 1942 in Irajá, Rio de Janeiro) is a Brazilian singer, composer, lawyer, writer and historian, specializing in Afro-Brazilian studies.
Biography
Born in Irajá in Rio de Janeiro (a traditional samba neighborhood whic ...
: ''Partido-Alto: Samba de Bamba'', Pallas, 264p., 2005
References
Tárik de Souza: ''Partido-alto - A arte da improvisação no samba'', Cliquemusic, 2000
{{Lusophonemusic
Samba music genres