13 - 15 September 2013 | Amsterdam Forró Festival

The History

 

In folk etymology it is common to associate the origin of the word forró from the words of the English language "for all". This originates from the early twentieth century, during the build of the Great Western Railway in Brazil. The British engineers, installed in Pernambuco, promoted parties open to the public, so "for all". This changed in the Brazilian vocabulary into "forró". Another version of the same story replaces the British engineers by Americans who had a military base there during the Second World War.
 

True or not, the fact is that the term has come to characterize forró one of the biggest musical events of the Brazilian Northeast. A rhythm that binds several other rhythms, like the 'baião', the 'coco', the 'rojão', the 'galope' the 'xote, the 'xaxado' and others.
 

There are linguistic studies that prove, however, that the term derives from the African word 'forrobodó' that means party. This is the original expression more accepted, leaving the influence of English 'for all' questioned. At the time of construction of railroads used the term to designate samba party in the interior of Ceará. The name forró as musical rhythm and dance style comes later.

 

 

The Music

 

The forró as a musical genre can be considered the son of baião. The name forró was used only to designate the location where the dances took place and only later was characterized as a musical style derived from baião. Many people still confuse baião and forró, and to be exact, not just these two genera (which are the closest), but many others on the Northeastern music. This wide variety of musical genres is due to various influences, the style with a mix of other, causing the musicians to call it "música nortista"(Northern Music).

 

The basic difference pointed out by all the musicians when asked about the difference between the baiao and forró is the beat of baião is more "square", it means, there is less balance then forró, also by the introduction of the guitar, and even drums into its orchestration, which allowed the music to "shook it" more. One reason that Dominguinhos expressed as an impediment to that today is not playing baião is precisely the fact that people do not know what baião is and what forró is. It is precisely here that the loss of "memory", that means, people have lost the reference.

 

 

The Dance

 

Forró is a sensual dance, the dance partners close to each move. In the countryside forró parties an important opportunity to any future partner to know. It is important to the movement of the hips. There is much with the arm swung by the hand of the partner is fixed. The other arm is on the hip of the partner.

 

Each rhythm has a different dance form:

 

Xote

This rhythm is danced in the form "two left, two right" (para dois lá, dois para cá). Within the four-four beat move one step with the left foot on the first and with the right foot on the third count on the first two beats throwing one hip to the left twice, and on the last two counts twice to the right.

 

Baião

This rhythm is danced in the form of one-two-one (um-dois-um). It takes a step with the left foot on the third beat of the measure, with the right foot on the fourth beat, and with the left foot back on the first beat on the second beat is a little jump is made there.

 

 

 

The Different Styles

 

Forró Pé de Serra

 

'Forró pé de serra' is considered the original form to do forró, created by Luiz Gonzaga. His music is based on the accordion, Zabumba (the bass drum) and triangle (triad established by Gonzaga). From it arise other forms of forró like 'forró estilizado' (electronic styles of forró) and the 'forró universitário' (forró from university).

 

Forró universitário

 

As we know it today, the dance was a university movement started in the 1990s as opposed to electronic forró. It is a style that blends traditional forró (pé de serra) with other musical styles.

 

His name is given to the fact that the style has been widely joined by university students in the Southeast - where the movement began. It is the dance with the trio university, accordion, bass drum and triangle, shall be accompanied by electric instruments - although to be guided by traditional forro.

 

Like music, how to dance forro style university is also different. The "two for two there to here," so common in forrós were replaced by a more elaborate dance adapting steps of ballroom dancing. the  music and dance of university style began to emerge in 2000 from the national success of the group Falamansa.

 

 

Forró estilizado (eletronic forró)

 

The electronic forró is a variation divergent post-modernized and stylized forró classic that uses electronic elements in their execution, such as keyboard, bass and electric guitar (many of the songs are covers of international rock singles, thus showing the influence of this musical style).

 

In the middle of the early 90's movement emerged in full force with the emergence of bands like 'Mastruz com Leite', 'Cavalo de Pau', 'Noda de Cajú', 'Mel com Terra', 'Magníficos' and others. These bands of young people fell in love because their songs spoke of love and everyday things while the traditional forró spoke about themes from rural hinterland of small towns (something that even today many forrozeiros still insist) far from the reality of youth northeastern capital and its hectic urban life. This movement brought after the renewal of forró, professional events for shows in which they had forró, growth of market events throughout the northeast as well as the further spread of pace. The influence of electronic forró became so great that the singer Michel Teló to rewrite the song 'Ai se eu te pego' (originally an eletonic forró), turned into a phenomenon in Europe including being rewritten by Polish and dutch artists.

 

 

Forró in Europe

 

In Europe forró has grown significantly in recent years. It brings together hundreds of people of different ages and ethnicities who share their love for the forró music and sensual dance.

 

The organization of festivals in Europe began in Stuttgart with the 'Forró de domingo Festival', the largest gathering so far a number of approximately 500 participants from all parts of Europe and Russia per day between dance workshops and concerts. After Stuttgart came other festivals in other cities such as Aachen (Germany), Paris (France), Lisbon (Portugal), London (UK), Rome (Italy) and Moscow (Russia) that has increased the number of participants each year.

 

 

 

Documentary videos about forró

 

Have a look at some interesting documentary videos about forró.