Baião

Press "Play" below to hear A Banda play the Baião number "Asa Branca":

Baiao also originates in Bahia. Modern arrangements feature Surdo drums heavily with a variety of patterns but the basic parts shown here will convey the feel of the rhythm.

Like other Brazilian styles, baião started out within festive dance meetings. Folklore specialist Câmara Cascudo breaks the name in "baiano" (from Bahia) and "rojão" (sky rocket); the latter also used to designate short viola (Brazilian type of acoustic guitar) phrases played in between sang desafios (rap-like, rhyming improvisation; literally, "challenges"). The binary rhythm, blended with sad, minor key melodies, has since been customized and softened for the urban taste.