The influences of classical music and Brazilian music on Tom Jobim's composition Childhood, Training, Classical and Brazilian music
by Kengchakaj Kengkarnka In Brazilian music world, one of the first name that we think of is Tom Jobim who is a key figure in Brazilian music history whom is one of the creator of one of the most popular genre in Brazilian music which is “Bossa Nova” Moreover, It’s almost impossible not to mention him and how much he is influenced by classical music and combine with music from his own flag, Brazilian music. In this article, we will explore these influences by briefly look into his childhood/ training and we will look into a few identical classical piece with his musical example. In addition, we will look into his work that influenced by Brazilian music that is from the northeastern.
Childhood/Training Tom Jobim was born on January 25, 1927, in Rio de Janeiro. His family moved to Ipanema and he was raised there since then. Nature have become his influences. He would go out to the beach and mountain doing all kind of activities and embrace the nature. At that time he wasn’t really into musical training yet. However, his family has big influences on him about music too. “As far back as I can remember, I’ve always loved music. My earliest memories are of my mother singing lullabies. Then the songs in children’s street games. Ours was a big family, and we lived in a large two-story house with a creaking wooden staircase. I remember my uncles playing the guitar, singing choro and waltzes, Spanish music, Bach, and so forth,until I was sent to bed. My grandmother playing piano, my uncle playing guitars, my mother singing, and so forth. On Saturdays, more people came to play and sing in harmony”
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Han-Joachim Koellreutter was his piano instructor. He was a German who had fled to Brazilian during the war. He brought the musical novelty of atonality. It was under Koellreutter that Tom getting more serious about music and spending long hours on the piano, practicing and learn how to read music. Koellreutter taught the basics composition and harmony. He wanted to be a concert pianist. However, It was with second piano teach, Lucia Branco that he discovers his limited extension of his hands and she encourages him to be a composer and He would study Debussy, Chopin, Bach, Ravel, Stravinsky, Rachmaninoff, and Villa-Lobos. Moreover, He studies harmony and composition with black composer and conductor Paulo Silva. Under Paulo, he would write waltzes, mazurkas, and preludes as an exercise which latter he called them “waste-paper preludes” It is obvious that Tom Jobim was classical trained. He has got his basic from rich classical music training. It was because of limitation of his extension of hands that he discovers his composition talent.
Classical influences “Stravinsky was right: modern music is five percent inspiration and 95 percent perspiration. I work hard on the piano” — Tom Jobim
Influenced by Liszt and Chopin, Jobim, at the age of 18, wrote a waltz “Imagina” which then was intended to call “Quando a Te vicar boa”(When Te Recovers) which he writes for his girlfriend Theresa Otero Hermanny. However, it seems like to have influence from the impressionist, Ravel and Debussy, too. The harmonic journey of Imagina is similar to Ravel, Sonatine no.1, Modere.
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figure 1.1 Excerpt from Ravel, Sonatine No.1
figure 1.2 Excerpt from Jobim, Imagina
From the musical example above, the harmonic progress is very similar except in different key. the harmony in both examples is IM7 to V7(b9) with similar voicing and inversion. Another example of classical influences in Tom Jobim music is shown in one of his most well, known composition “Insensatez” which is clearly influenced by Chopin, Prelude in E minor.
figure 2.1 Excerpt from Chopin, Prelude in E minor.
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figure 2.2 Excerpt from Jobim, Insensatez
From the figure 2.1 and 2.2, both example of similar movement of bass and harmony. For example, first harmonic change in both pieces is move from I minor to VII diminished. In addition, Jobim got his influences from Stravinsky which can be found in his symphony work like “O Homen” and “O Trabalho E a Construção”. Both examples have similar rhythmic and harmonic movement to “Rite of Spring,” one of Stravinsky most well know piece. Moreover, His classical influences not only come from European composer but also from Villa Lobos who is well known Brazilian classical composer which Tom admire much. Jobim once wrote : “Real musician go to Villa to seek inspiration and to find their roots”
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Another clear example of Villa Lobos influences is shown in Tom’s “Saudade do Brasil” which is influenced by Villa’s “Bachianas Brasileiras no. 5” . Which the harmonic movement is clearly influenced by Lobos composition.
Brazilian Music Influences At the “Clube da Chave" (Key Club), Jobim discovered the rhythmic beauty of baiao and Forro rhythm from the north eastern which shown in his work like “Vida bela,” “Cai a tarde,” “Chegada Dos Candangos,” and also shown on his album called “Urubu” . Beside Brazilian northeastern style of music, he’s got a lots of influences from the “Samba Canção” , from the composer like Ari Barroso, Dorival Caymmi, etc.
In conclusion, Tom Jobim is clearly one of the most important key figure in Brazilian music and he is also clearly influenced by classical music. He is well classical train both on piano and composition and exposes to the great classical composer. Nevertheless, he never forgets his root and nature of Brazilian which also impacts on his music a lot.
References Jobim, H. (1996) Antonio Carlos Jobim. Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard Books Jobim, P. (2001) Cancioneiro Jobim volume 1-5. Rio de Janeiro, RJ: Jobim Music Reily, S. (1996) Tom Jobim and the Bossa Nova Era. Cambridge University Press
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