ORIGINAL PORTUGUESE LYRICS:
SUITE BRASIL: Paulo Buffara, letra

“Brazil” Symphonic Poem in 12 movements for Solo Percussion, Choir SATB and Orchestra (or Percussion Ensemble).
Music: Ney Rosauro. Lyrics: Paulo Buffara.

The symphonic poem “Brazil” is a musical journey that describes Brazil and its historical and cultural origins from its discovery to the present days.
Brazil, its beauty, its cultural richness and its diverse music with beautiful melodies and contagious rhythms is described musically in 12 moments that represent events, characters and important moments in its history.
With small excerpts narrated between the movements and an intelligent, descriptive and humorous lyrics, the listener is led to a better understanding of the work and the musical context that each movement represents.

The work has a cyclical theme that serves as an element of unity and transition between the 12 movements.
If we assign a letter of the alphabet to each musical note based on the note “Do” as the letter “A”, the note “Do#” as the letter “B” and so on, the word “Brazil” will be formed by the notes “Do#, Fa, Do, F#, G# and B” that together form a suspended Do# seventh chord. This chord and sequence of notes appears throughout the entire work.

The 12 movements or episodes are:
1) EUROPE, MOTHERLAND. After the introduction with elements and variations of the cyclical theme, the first theme is presented by the flute and harp and recalls the ancient tradition of the old continent and the Iberian peninsula from where the Portuguese left to discover Brazil. The lyrics talk about the uncertainties beyond the sea and the possibility (or not) of existing land beyond the horizon.

2) THE JOURNEY OF THE DISCOVERY. This episode describes the monotony of the journey, the uncertainty of sailing without knowing to where, and the dangers of the ocean. The lyrics describe the different feelings of men and women separated by the ocean. The tension builds little by little, passes through storms and culminates in the glorious moment when finally land is in sight.

3) THE EARTH. The musical environment evokes the tropical forests, birds and waterfalls of the virgin land, and is embellished with lyrical melodies that describe the immensity and beauty of this newly discovered land.

4) INDIGENOUS PEOPLE. The frantic rhythm of the drums represents the native inhabitants of the land who, according to their tribes, could be friendly hosts, terrible cannibals or head hunters. The sound of cannons and shots of “fire sticks” from white men will be heard at the end, representing the oppression and indiscriminate killing of the Indigenous people.

5) THE DOMINATION OF THE WHITE MAN. After killing the indigenous people the white man asserts his possession of the new land. Trumpets and Timpani announce the arrival of the “bandeirantes” that were the first explorers of the backlands who consolidate the white man’s dominance over the discovered land.

6) THE FIRST VILLAGES. The sound of church bells and prayers sung inside them evoke the first settlements founded in the new land.

7) SHIPWRECKS AND EXILED: In a satirical way the first inhabitants who came to live in the new discovered land are here described. They were almost all shipwrecks from ships sunk on the coast and also drunks, outlaws and criminals who were not welcome on the old continent and who were sent to Brazil by force.

8) LAMENT AND DANCE OF THE SLAVES: It begins with a sad melody that evokes a slave singing his pains and misadventures.
There follows an afro dance with congas and marimba (balafone) that describes the cruel and inhumane way in which slaves were arrested and brought to Brazil. The theme used here is from a traditional African song that talks about the suffering of the captives, and the asking for their mothers and saints to come to save them and alleviate so much pain.

9) REVOLTS AND WARS: Shots, explosions and screams symbolize the attack and the increase in tension resulting from the many revolts and wars that the country went through before gaining its independence from Portugal.

10) INDEPENDENCE: Finally, Brazil becomes independent. In this movement the Brazilian Independence Anthem is used as thematic material.

11) THE BRAZILIAN PEOPLE. The diversity of ethnicities is represented first by the berimbau and flutes and then in the rhythm of a cheerful “Afoché”. The humorous lyrics talk about typical people and facts that are well known among Brazilians.

12) FINALE. After the solo marimba presents variations of the Brazilian national anthem in the minor key, a baião full of life and with lyrics containing a positive message will conclude this work.
During this movement, in addition to the main theme, several quotes from songs and poems well known to Brazilians will enrich the musical narration. Among the many quotations we have: O Guarani by Carlos Gomes, O Trenzinho do Caipira by Villa Lobos, as well as other excerpts of music and poetry by Tom Jobim, Waldir Azevedo, Luis Gonzaga, Gonçalves Dias, among others.

BRAZIL “Symphonic Poem” Free translation of the Portuguese lyrics  by Paulo Buffara (see original Portuguese lyrics below)
1) Europe, Motherland
(contralto solo)
From Lisbon via the Tejo river, we reach the sea
But beyond the horizon, what is there?
Would it be worth to risk life seeking possible fortune If the boat gets there?
(Men)
It is said that there are riches, and that the Eldorado is there Many birds that chirp gorgeous songs from this land
There are forests and waterfalls, fresh waters, green mountains If such a place exists?

2) The Journey of the Discovery
(Men)
How mysterious it is to navigate. An obscure dream on the sea. The port of departure is always further away
And the dream of arrival is always a horizon ahead
(Tutti)
Storm, rough sea, could be the end
Calm sea, good winds, a happy landing.
– Land in view,
It has tropical green forests, blue rivers, and exuberance, Beauty like this, there is nowhere!

3) The Earth
(Men)
What a beautiful land, covered in aromas and colors
Your beaches and forests reflect your beauty
Born of dreams of a new world, seeds sowed in gentle land
In your bosom I let myself be enchanted.
(Women)
What a beautiful land, covered in aromas and colors Your beaches and forests inspire my singing

4) The Indigenous People
(Tutti – Name of indigenous tribes)
Ianomâmi, Pataxó, Tupinambá, Aimoré Arawetê, Carijó, Xavante and Macuxí Tupiniquim, Guarani, Kaxinauá, Caiapó Pitaguarí, Caeté, Anauenê and Tupi
(Tutti – Name of indigenous people)
Tiberê, Guaraci, Tainá, Peri Yamandú, Iberê, Mauricí Tiarajú, Pitangui, Jurecê, Ceci Moacir, Cairí, Jurema.
White man, brought the fire stick and came to stay
White man, brought the fire stick and came to stay

5) Domination by the White Man
Instrumental

6) The First Villages
On the top of the hill, a church where the bell announces That it is time for the mass and calls the people to pray

7) Shipwrecks and Exiles:
(Men) My ship sank, I almost died
(Women) but now you’re alive, and safe here
(Men) I was always an unhappy sailor
(Women) and today you are the king in your country (Bass solo) My hat has 3 corners, 3 corners has my hat. (Men) I, who was never been a decent person
(Tutti) was rewarded to live in this colony
(Men) I, who have always been a true evil
(Tutti) Now I/you learned that the crime pays of.

8) Lament and Dance of the Slaves Lament:
LAMENT: (Man’s solo)
Ogunhê, I can’t stand so much suffering Life like this, is not living
I can’t stand so much crying and it would be better to die (Man and woman duet) Oxalá, my dear orixá
Come here to help me
Bring peace, bring your light
so I can remember, that one day I was happy that I lived where I belong
and had wings to fly.
DANCE (Men)
I am Nagô, Yoruba, Batu, Fon and Jejê
White man went there, and put me to sell Black Old Orixá will curse you,
White man was bad, he made my people suffer (T utti)
Mama, take care of me,
Mama come and save me (2x)
(Women)
Men came from the sea and took me from you They took my son and sold it
(Tutti)
Mama, take care of me,
Mama come and save me (2x)

9) Revolts and Wars
Hey, hey
Run, grab, punch, die
I attack you, I break you, I pierce you, I kill you Lets break everything!

10) The Independence
Freedom has dawned on the horizon of Brazil

11) The Brazilian People
Brazilian people, gentle motherland,
Groovy mulato, under the indigo sky
It’s Villa Lobos, it’s Tom Jobim
It’s Ari Barroso, and the saint of the good end (Men)
Being Brazilian means coffee beans, bananas,
football, Copacabana and also pandeiro and tambourine (Women)
Being Brazilian means Pelé, Carmen Miranda
And at the parties wear green, yellow, white and blue.

12) Finale
My Brazil, motherland, source of my inspiration
My country, root father, cradle of my emotion
Thousand songs and passions, land of samba and baião
I will dance and celebrate, the country that sings and is happy
My land has palm trees, where the Sabia (bird) sings
the birds that chirp here, don’t exist elsewhere
Our sky has more stars, our floodplains have more flowers. Our forests have more life, our live have more love.
Giant by nature,
you are beautiful and strong, an undaunted colossus your future reflects this greatness,
beloved land, idolized homeland,
my Brazil (3x)