16 episodes

Accessible, comprehensive conversations about Brazilian music. We discuss songs and genres in terms of their specific sounds and the cultural and historical circumstances that give them meaning.

Massa: Brazilian Music & Culture Juliana Cantarelli Vita & Schuyler Whelden

    • Music
    • 5.0 • 23 Ratings

Accessible, comprehensive conversations about Brazilian music. We discuss songs and genres in terms of their specific sounds and the cultural and historical circumstances that give them meaning.

    Interlude: Podcasting as Educational Tool

    Interlude: Podcasting as Educational Tool

    Well, we haven’t released an episode in a while, but that’s not because we
    aren’t working. In fact, we’ve never worked harder! We’ve been researching,
    interviewing, and recording episodes all this time.

    As we’ve worked, we’ve received quite a few comments and queries from you
    all, our listenership.

    Forró Eletrônico

    Forró Eletrônico

    Juliana Cantarelli Vita and Schuyler Whelden continue their discussion the popular music genre forró with an exploration of the history and musical features of the sub-genre known as forró eletrônico.
    Transcript available at https://essefoimassa.com/.
    Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
    Songs:
    Som da Massa, “Transcontinental Baião”
    Limão com Mel, “De Janeiro a Janeiro” (YouTube) (Spotify)
    Vieira e Seu Conjunto, “Rei da Lambada” (YouTube) (Spotify)
    Daniela Mercury, “O Canto da Cidade” (YouTube) (Spotify)
    Luiz Gonzaga, “Baião” (YouTube) (Spotify)
    Mastruz com Leite, “Meu Vaqueiro, Meu Peão” (YouTube) (Spotify)
    Aviões do Forró, “Chupa Que é de Uva” (YouTube) (Spotify)
    Sammy Bananas, “Transcontinental Baião (Carioca Remix)” 

    • 35 min
    Forró Universitário

    Forró Universitário

    Juliana Cantarelli Vita and Schuyler Whelden continue their discussion the popular music genre forró with an exploration of the history and musical features of the sub-genre known as forró universitário.
    Transcript available at https://essefoimassa.com/.
    Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
    Songs:
    Falamansa, “Xote da Alegria” (Spotify) (Youtube)
    Flávio José, “A Natureza das Coisas” (Spotify) (Youtube)
    Dominguinhos, “Eu Só Quero Um Xodó” (Youtube)
    Blues Traveler, "Hook" (Spotify) (Youtube)
    Axis of Awesome. “4 Chords”
    Juanes, “Volverte a Ver” (Spotify) (Youtube)
    Skank, “Te Ver” (Spotify) (Youtube)
    Os Paralamas do Sucesso, “Ela Disse Adeus”  (Spotify) (Youtube)
    Rastapé, “Colo de Menina” (Spotify) (Youtube)

    • 38 min
    Forró: Songs of Migration

    Forró: Songs of Migration

    Juliana Cantarelli Vita and Schuyler Whelden continue their discussion the popular music genre forró with an exploration of themes of migration from the Brazilian Northeast.
    Transcript available at https://essefoimassa.com/.
    Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
    Songs:
    Luiz Gonzaga, “Asa Branca” (Youtube) (Spotify)
    Marinês, “Rainha do Xaxado” (Spotify) (YouTube)
    Siba e Barachinha “Morte do sambador” (Youtube)
    Venâncio e Curumbá, “Último Pau de Arara” (Youtube)
    Maria Bethânia, “Carcará” (Youtube)
    João do Vale, “Sina de Caboclo” (Youtube) 
    Jair Rodrigues, “Disparada” (Youtube)
    Clara Nunes, “Feira de Mangaio” (Youtube) (Spotify)
    Maria Dapaz, “Volta da Asa Branca” (Youtube) (Spotify)

    • 50 min
    Forró: Baião

    Forró: Baião

    Juliana Cantarelli Vita and Schuyler Whelden continue their discussion the popular music genre forró with an exploration of the history and musical features of the dance tradition called baião, as well as its continued usage in popular music.
    They are joined once again by accordionist and forró historian Julinho Mendes.
    Transcript available at https://essefoimassa.com/.
    Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
    Songs:
    Gonzagão and Gonzaguinha, “Baião” (Youtube) (Spotify)
    Mário de Andrade’s Missão de Pesquisas Folclóricas, “Baião” (Youtube)
    Quatro Ases e Um Coringa, “Baião” (Youtube)
    Luiz Gonzaga, “Baião” (Youtube) (Spotify)
    Banda de Pífano Cultural de Caruaru 100%, “Baião em Novena” (Youtube) (Spotify)
    Clemilda, “Forró Sem Briga” (Youtube) (Spotify)
    Clemilda, “Prenda o Tadeu” (Youtube) (Spotify)
    Raimundo Sodré, “A Massa” (Youtube) (Spotify)
    Djavan, “Maçã do Rosto” (Youtube) (Spotify)
    Zé Ramalho, Elba Ramalho, and Geraldo Azevedo,“Ai Que Saudade D’Ocê” (Youtube) (Spotify)
    Tiago Araripe and Zeca Baleiro, “Baião de Nós” (Youtube) (Spotify)
    Luiz Gonzaga, “Baião de Dois” (Youtube) (Spotify)
    Almirante, “Pelo Telefone” (Youtube)

    • 53 min
    Forró: Xaxado

    Forró: Xaxado

    Juliana Cantarelli Vita and Schuyler Whelden continue their series on the Brazilian music genre known as forró with a discussion of the dance rhythm called xaxado. They discuss the musical characteristics of the genre and show a number of examples.
    They are joined by special guest Julinho Mendes, an accordionist (sanfoneiro) and forró historian.
    Transcript available at https://essefoimassa.com/.
    Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
    Songs:
    Gal Costa (feat. Gilberto Gil), “Sebastiana” (Spotify) (YouTube)
    Luiz Gonzaga, “Xaxado” (Spotify) (YouTube)
    Luiz Gonzaga, “Olha a Pisada” (YouTube)
    Volta Seca, “Mulher Rendeira” (Spotify) (YouTube)
    Luiz Gonzaga, “Óia Eu Aqui de Novo” (Spotify) (YouTube)
    Marinês, “Rainha do Xaxado” (Spotify) (YouTube)
    Zé Ramalho, “Cavalos do Cão” (Spotify) (YouTube)
    Lenine, “Candeeiro Encantado” (Spotify) (YouTube)
    Jackson do Pandeiro, “Sebastiana” (Spotify) (YouTube)

    • 47 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
23 Ratings

23 Ratings

Sarah-Cine ,

Informative and digestible

Juliana and Schuyler have a beautiful chemistry as co-hosts. Their thoughtful and educational narratives are easy to digest, and leave you excited for more. A great pod for students, educators, or anyone interested in learning more about Brazilian music.

tessa whelden ,

Best educational music podcast!!

This podcast is the best one you’ll find that thoroughly examines music based on a specific region. Along with the discussion of the history, you can find out more about the cultural implications and instrumental choices that define Brazilian music from these two incredibly intelligent hosts. I highly recommend this to anyone looking to know more about music in Brazil, and I will definitely keep listening!

KellyMUAH ,

Give it a try!

I am not a musician or music student, and I have no connection to Brazil, so I wasn’t sure if I’d find this interesting. But so glad I gave it a try! I love it. The hosts are so engaging and and they have a wonderful rapport. It’s fun to learn about the music, culture and politics. This podcast even inspired me to download a language app so I could learn some Portuguese. I can’t wait for the next episode.

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