Trenzinho da Montanha album - track descriptions

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Choro tends towards being pure, abstract music rather than descriptive or narrative. For most of the Choros I’ve written, the music usually comes first, the title later. Most of these tunes weren’t written to express the title – the titles were just added later to suggest a hint of what the music seemed to be portraying. Maybe they convey  something quite different to you.

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1. Choro do Fleurieu: Originally given the working title ‘Fleurieu Tootle’, this tune came into my head during a road trip around South Australia, starting from Adelaide, heading north, then West, and ending up in the wonderful Flinders Ranges. Touring through those lush green hills and valleys of the Fleurieu Peninsula, we got lost many times but discovered some wonderful countryside in the process. This tune is just a simple little tootle – with a twist or two.

2. Forro da Fogueira ('Bonfire Forró')*: I wondered for a moment if I could challenge myself to write a Forró – this one came out very quickly, almost in its entirety. Accordion solo by Ricardo Bona.

3. Smiles for Miles: Written to celebrate the birth of Miles M., son of one of our Choro ensemble guitarists Mircha – a founding member of the Brisbane Choro jam sessions. The tune includes included a subtle nod or two to another Miles.

4. Rat Race Choro: The idea for the main theme kept running around in my head for a number of years until I finally found the downtime to work it through during the summer holidays. The title was something of an afterthought, but fits perfectly. (2017)

5. Trenzinho da Montanha: The very first Choro I composed, written a couple of weeks after I started attending the Brisbane Choro jam, where about 25-30 enthusiastic musicians would pack out a tiny flat above a West End café every week, often playing until well after midnight. At that time, having had no outlet for composing for many years, I had virtually stopped writing. I never actually set out to write Choro – I just woke up one morning with just a faint hint of the initial chord progression of the main theme of this tune beckoning me in my mind. I hunted for how the vague idea seemed to want to outwork itself. This Choro flowed from there, and soon after this many more Choros poured out in rapid succession. Originally titled "Up the Garden Path', which didn't translate into Portuguese too well, the idea of a little train seemed appropriate.

6. Amazon Blues: A rhythmically challenging ‘Blues within a blues’, x 2, with a florid Choro style B section sandwiched between two slightly different versions of the main theme. This one has a slightly Peruvian/Chilean, Inca-influenced feel.

7. Tasmaniana: Another geographically inspired tune. On a trip around Tasmania we found ourselves at Hartz Mountains National Park – cold, gloomy and totally deserted. With the rain falling softly and thick banks of mist rolling over the mountains, we followed a wildflower festooned pathway into the hills leading a small waterfall. As we plodded further along the narrow pathway, a vista opened up to reveal a sweeping view of mountains and valleys, framing a much larger, more impressive waterfall. As we walked the main melody began stalking me, and from then on it seemed to keep following me all the way around Tassie.

8. Ebb & Flow: One of my more classical Choros. Many Choro composers have been influenced by classical music from the Romantic era, by Chopin in particular.

9. Amigos Ausentes (‘Absent Friends’): Dedicated to the super-talented Wade Gregory, a founding member of the Brisbane Roda de Choro – a highly accomplished pianist, clarinettist and composer in various styles (including numerous terrific Choros) - I wrote this tune as a farewell offering to Wade when he left Brisbane, deserting us to take up a position in country Victoria, where he has continued to be very active both writing and performing in the local community.

10. Chopinesca: Another of my more classical Choros, taking influences from classical composers of the Romantic era, such as Chopin and Liszt.

11. Vovo e Neto: The tune seemed to convey a conversation between two different individuals of contrasting character, so it became ‘Grandfather and grandson’. The stern, wise old Grandfather seems to be warning his impetuous, headstrong grandson to behave soberly and live the sensible life, while the young guy just wants to live it up and have a good time.

12. Tan-tan: A funny little Forro* about a musician who plays many Brazilian percussion instruments, but can’t remember where he left his Tan-tan (medium sized drum). Lyrics translated into Portuguese by Eddie Gazani.

13. Noite dos Tatus: Conceived as a bowed Double Bass solo piece, this little choro seemed to evoke a sense of the forest by night. Bass solo by Greta Hunter.

14. Sunset Dreaming: a lilting solo for alto flute; let it transport you to wherever your sunset dreams want to take you.

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N.B. *Forró is a dance style from the rural regions of Northeastern Brazil

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