Program / Event Details

Raíces Negras – Brazilian Choro: The Musical World of Pixinguinha

The Brazilian Choro is an intriguing, imaginative, and beautiful music. This musical genre, birthed in Rio de Janeiro in the mid-19th century, represents the height of Brazilian nationalism. Like the national dish feijoada, where a lot of different ingredients are thrown in to make the stew, Choro has its roots in African syncopated rhythms and European dance forms, including the lundú, the polka, and the habanera, creating a very unique style. Traditionally, the common instrumentation includes the flute leading with ornamented melodies, the guitar and cavaquinho providing improvised harmonic and rhythmic accompaniment, as well as the melodic counterpoint and percussion, usually pandeiro, providing the rhythmic backbone aligned with the solo melody. Though the genre is typically instrumental, at times, some compositions have accompanying lyrics. The improvisatory nature of Choro mirrors that of North American jazz, and virtuosity is a hallmark of the style. Arguably, the most influential composer in the preservation of Choro during the 20th century was the Afro-Brazilian composer and flutist Alfredo da Rocha Vianna Jr. (1897–1973), or Pixinguinha, as he was more commonly known. He famously revolutionized counterpoint in choros and samba. As part of this program, you will hear a selection of famous compositions by him and his contemporaries.

Sound/Backline provided by artist.

Performers

Ceylon Mitchell, flute
Cristian Perez, guitar
Lucas Ashby, percussion
Andre Coelho, percussion
Pablo Regis de Oliveira, cavaquinho
Seth Kibel, tenor sax

Sample Repertoire

Carinhoso
Cochichando
Um a Zero
Lamentos
A Flor Amorosa
Lundu Característico
Primeiro Amor
Zinha
Atraente
O Abre Alas
Corta-Jaca/Gaucho

Fees are for daytime school programs in Maryland, Washington, DC, and northern Virginia only.

Evening, weekend, workshop, and non-school fees differ – please contact us.

Additional travel fees apply.

About Ceylon Mitchell

Flutist Dr. Ceylon Mitchell II leads the modern Cuban charanga ensemble Raíces Negras in an homage to the beloved Cuban music group Orquesta Aragón and its songwriter, Richard “La Flauta Mágica” Egües. The performance features danzón classics like “Almendra” and “Pare Cochero,” showcasing the fusion of Afro-Cuban rhythms and European classical instruments. A celebration of traditional Cuban forms and Latin jazz, Mitchell and the award-winning musicians of Raíces Negras bring audiences of all ages to their feet.

Biography

The Woodwinds Department Chair with Levine Music, Dr. Ceylon Mitchell II serves the arts ecosystem as a multi-hyphenate arts leader: contemporary classical flutist, educator, and entrepreneur. On a mission to celebrate marginalized identities in music, especially Black and Latine voices, his diverse repertoire spans from Western European classical to living cultural traditions across the Americas, along with everything in between.

Originally from Anchorage, Alaska, Dr. Mitchell earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Maryland School of Music under the tutelage of Dr. Sarah Frisof. He has performed in venues such as Boston’s Symphony Hall, the Music Center at Strathmore, the Arts Club of Washington, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts with Robert Glasper.