The Brazilian Culture in Plymouth: One of the groups with the largest cultural identity in Plymouth is Brazilians. Bringing their cultural practices, arts, and food with them, this is a group that has impacted the town very positively. The music found in their home country is vast in its genres and styles, with Samba being the most popular and recognizable.
The music of Brazil has been shaped by the groups of people that have come through and settled in the land, For example during the 16th century when Europeans settled in the country they brought their own styles. Looking deeper, the African slaves brought by Europeans also came with a musical background that shaped Brazil. In fact, Samba is a style of music that has its roots in Africa and was brought to the country by West African slaves. It is one of the most recognizable symbols of the country and is associated with the annual Brazilian Carnival, the most famous holiday in the country. Modern Samba that is performed today emerged at the start of the 20th century with a 2/4 tempo. A large variety of instruments can be used to perform Samba music including the guitar, bass, trumpet, drum kit, banjo, choros, and even clarinets. |
Samba is not only a musical form in Brazil, but a style of dance as well. The Samba dance that follows the musical style of the same name also owes its presence in Brazil to the African people who brought it with them upon moving to Latin America. There are multiple forms of Samba dance that are practiced in Brazil, each with their own distinct styles and movements. For example, Samba de Gafieira is
a form of the dance that evolved out of the nightclubs of Brazil in the 1940s, in fact, “Gafieira” meant a dance hall. Samba de Gafieira follows a quick-quick-slow or a slow-quick-quick rhythm during which the man leads with a series of steps and the women mirrors, just like the Waltz. These distinct styles have been brought over by the Brazilians that immigrated to Plymouth and are kept alive by the vibrant Brazilian community. |
Wampanoag Culture in Plymouth: A second group from Plymouth that has been present from the beginning, and continues to perform their traditional form of music is the Wampanoag tribe. Through the living museum that is Plimoth Plantation, the lifestyle of the Wampanoag people as it was in the 17th century is preserved accurately from the deerskin clothing they wear, to the living structures built. Visitors to the museum observe the day to day responsibilities of a Wampanoag living in the 1600s. The music performed by the Wampanoag is generally for celebration purposes during a powwow, when a large drum is beat by several musicians accompanied by singing. Wampanoag music is performed with instruments such as drums, rattles made from gourds and turtle shells, and whistles made from bone and wood.
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