In this lecture, Tom Rohde demonstrates how African dances, such as lundu, were combined with the European polca and schottische to create choro, a uniquely Brazilian rhythm. This mixing was controversial at the time because Brazilian high society discriminated against African cultural products.

About Tom Rohde:

Mr. Rohde is a classical guitarist and musicologist who earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Ithaca College and a Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in musicology at Catholic University with a minor in Latin American music. His area of specialization is Brazilian music and culture and his dissertation focuses on cultural adaptation and recontextualization in Brazilian popular song. His knowledge of Brazilian music has been enhanced through his experience performing with Brazilian music groups in Boston and Washington D.C. for more than twenty years. While living in Boston he was a member of the New World Guitar Trio, with whom he recorded the CD Exiled and toured throughout Brazil, Taiwan, and the United States. Mr. Rohde is a contributing author to the Greenwood Encyclopedia of Latin American Popular Music and he currently teaches Music Literature and Music in Western Civilization at Catholic University and he is a Lecturer of Music History and Culture at George Washington University.

This project was made possible by a grant from Maryland Humanities, with funding received from the Maryland Historical Trust in the Maryland Department of Planning. Maryland Humanities’ Grants Program is also supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities and private funders. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this series do not necessarily represent those of Maryland Humanities, Maryland Historical Trust, Maryland Department of Planning, or National Endowment for the Humanities.

This is a free, in-person, and socially distanced event that will later be posted to EducArte’s YouTube page. EducArte follows all City of College Park, Prince George’ County and Maryland State safety guidelines.

Learn more about the full Choro Lecture Series this fall.