Choro

Choro Instruments

e.g. (2 guitars, pandeiro, cavaqquinho, bandolim)

https://youtu.be/FJJhm7gNL8c

Common Solo Instruments

• flute

• bandolim

• clarinet

• saxophone

Bandolim

• 4 doubled unison strings

Cavaquinho

• 4 metallic strings

• both sound same, ukulele-mini guitarish

• difference is that cavaquinho sounds more metallic and ear-piercing iykwim

Roda de Choro

• gathering to play choro

Features

• Improvisation

• ornamentation

• counterpoint (interaction between those two melodies)

• countermelody (independent melody that plays against another melody)

Harmony

• Diatonic (maj and min scales)

• frequent modulations
  • Major: relative minor / subdominant
  • Minor: relative major / tonic major

• modulations to dominant key rare in both the major and minor modes

Form

Usually:

• Rondo (ABACA)

• Ternary (ABA)

The sections are repeated.

Metre + Rhythm

• 2/4 (most common)

• 3/4

• 2/2

• 4/4

Instruments

flute

• solo

cavaquinho

• solo or accom.

• plucked, strummed or played with a pick

https://youtu.be/cILU9TpQwxA

bandolim

• solo

• melody

https://youtu.be/HKSxNve7ZUg the one in the middle

two six- or seven-stringed guitars

• 1 bass

• 1 accom.

• OR solo (rare)

pandeiro

• percussion

• tambourine-like hand frame drum

• alternating the thumb, fingertips, heel and palm of the hand

• or shaken

https://youtu.be/lq5lpciRcN8