THE BRAZILIAN CHORO: ITS HISTORY AND STRUCTURE

This article examines the Brazilian musical genre known as Choro. Having discussed the history of Brazil, the genre is subsequently discussed within a broader context of Brazilian popular music. Many important aspects of Brazilian music related to Choro are considered: (1) the influence of African culture and European music; (2) the role of classical composers like Heitor Villa-Lobos; and, (3) the influence of sacred music, opera and other popular musical types. There is also a detailed explanation of the connection between Choro and jazz, with special attention given to the structure of the music and the role of improvisation