Samba em Preludio - String Quartet

String Quartet - Samba em Preludio (Baden Powell & Vinicius de Moraes)

History

"Samba em Prelúdio" is a Brazilian masterpiece, composed by Baden Powell and Vinicius de Moraes. It’s a deeply soulful, melancholic song that blends samba with jazz elements, creating a softness that hits right to the heart. The lyrics speak of love, longing, and desire, expressing a nearly unbreakable connection between two lovers. Covered by iconic voices like Elis Regina and others worldwide, this song is mesmerizing—a poetic, sophisticated duet between guitar and voice that gives you chills!

About the Arrangement

This arrangement was crafted with the intent of highlighting the instrumental setup often seen in performances of this piece: 7-string guitar, pandeiro, voice, and piano. I aimed to preserve this authentic feel, especially through the string instruments.

Right at the beginning, I chose to spotlight the viola, whose dark and deep tone fits perfectly for the opening solo. In the score, I included the indication “Livre” in Portuguese (free), meaning that the other instruments should follow the viola’s solo, adjusting the tempo accordingly and not adhering to a strict rhythm.

If you have any questions about any details in the arrangement, please feel free to reach out to me.