This is what the pictures of Pauliteros & Palhaços were leading up to yesterday.This festival is organised by Tocá Rufar and the CM Seixal and on 16, 17 & 18 June, the 2nd edition took place. Even bigger than last year.
The first 2 days are for performances in the Quinta da Fidalga by professional bands from Portugal and beyond. The final day is a gigantic family event, starting with a march of some 2 kms along the marginal of the Baia de Seixal from Arrentela to the Quinta. This year, 700 musicians of all ages took part, from about 10 different bands, including the Pauliteiros and junior satellite Tocá Rufinas from around Seixal, Setubal, etc.The road is closed to traffic and it takes about 2 hours to complete the march. given the heat on 18th June, this was asking a lot from so many little kids especially. But they all did it! The thousands of people watching could get some shade, from trees or along the street at the start, but not the drummers.
At the end, by the gates into the Quinta, the first of the main Tocá Rufar divisions, waited alongside a group of mixed percussionists from Italy, Estonia, UK, Belgium and Holland who had marched behind them. They greeted every separate group of marchers with drum rolls. The older groups each stopped and played their own virtuoso performance in return.It was a really memorable sight. Inside the Quinta, they all joined up in front of the large stage to be warmly welcomed
by the TR Director, Rui Junior - and responded, all 700 of them in unison.Then lunch, followed by a wide variety of events & performances that made the large audience happy.
I took 580 photos in about 6 hours that day. It is impossible to choose what can convey the atmosphere, so I have decided to make these 3 groups of mosaics. I recommend youclick on each mosaic to see a larger version. Unfortunately, Picasa edits them and sometimes cuts out portions of my original pictures. I hope you like them and that they say something to you. Please read the other 3 posts below to see how my links to Tocá Rufar started.
3 comments:
Oh, I love percussions, I love TocáRufar. I first saw them in Expo 98 and followed them around for hours that day. Thanks for the great photos.
Those pics are great. I'd really say this guys are your favorte photographic subject. But they have an incredible fun... and that's why they look so great on the pictures. Very good shots. And those 25 de Abril are the best... and I suppose mine are not as good as yours :) Cheers!
Ana, that's great to know. It's funny that living in London and Paris, I was much more attached to Brazilian samba batucada schools than here. Their roots are more Afro of course, particularly the Bahia schools, whereas TR, etc are based on traditional Portuguese rythyms, mostly from the north and they tend to be much more 3/4. The Brazilian and African 5/4 & 7/4 are beyond most Europeans! All brilliant though.
Pedro, like I told you before, it takes practice, because it's very different from nature. Needs much faster reactions and eyes everywhere. It was a great time, wasn't it? Persdonally, as a showcase, I think my Rock in Rio is possibly the best.
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