CIRANDA. Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World

Ciranda is a Brazilian song and folk dance characterized by the formation of a large circle of dancers. In the state of Pernambuco, Ciranda is danced and sung to the sound of the slow and repeated rhythm of percussion instruments. A large circle of people is formed with the emcee (called Mestre Cirandeiro) in the middle, who animates the circle and improvises verses, while the refrain is repeated by the dancers. The dance can last for several hours. Ciranda or Cirandinha (Little Ciranda) is also the designation of Brazilian children’s rounds (Villa Lobos: Cirandas, 1926 and Cirandinhas, 1925), which began losing its creative force and popularity as of the 1950s. The dance is Portuguese in origin. The term Ciranda comes from the Castilian word zaranda—a flour-sifting device—which itself is an evolution of the Arabic word çarand (Borba and Graça: 1962). In Brazil it has several variations, known as Serenhinha (in the state of São Paulo), Seraninha (state of Minas Gerais) or Sarande (state of Goiás). It is also quite popular in the state of Amazonas, and there is an annual festival dedicated to this dance in the town of Manacapuru (located on the banks of the Solimões River, 80 Km from the state capital, Manaus).  

The adults’ ciranda, danced on the beaches of Recife, was at first limited primarily to venues such as beach-side areas, bar terraces and street corners. However, it became widely known in the 1960s as a result of the Popular Culture Movement, or “MCP” (created in September, 1961), which united intellectuals with the objective of developing and systemizing the popular culture of Pernambuco. The 1961 performance by “Mestre Baracho,” unknown to the Recifenses (residents of Recife) at the time, who would sing cirandas in public squares, unleashed the effervescence of ciranda rounds throughout the city. (In 1967, Teca Calazans recorded the LP titled “Aquela Rosa–Cirandas”, released by the Mocambo/Rozemblit label). Following the Military Coup of 1964, the MCP was extinguished and many of its members were arrested. 

In the 1970s, the beach dance (dança praieira)—the main participants of which hailed from among the working class (fishermen, construction workers, and odd-jobbers) as well as the intellectual class, changed into a spectacle for tourists. The cirandeiro and the dancers left their circles to perform on stages, using microphones and sound systems, now with specific time limits for their dances. In the 1990s, the “Mangue Beat” movement, with its reference to folk entertainment, served as a catalyst for the formation of new groups, which found inspiration in the use of original rhythms. This moment was favorable for the appearance of new composers. Middle-class youths as well as old-time cirandeiros created new fields of activity (Ciranda da Saúde [“Health Ciranda”], Ciranda Mimosa [“Sweet Ciranda”], Ciranda do Acalanto [“Lullaby Ciranda”], Ciranda da Maria Farinha [“Maria Farinha Ciranda”]), with the re-creation of ciranda songs and dances. Groups of composers and even social projects flourished, involving ciranda as a factor of social integration (e.g.: the NGO called Cais do Porto). Nevertheless, the record industry has brought in several singers to record cirandas (Elba Ramalho in 2001, Ney Matogrosso in 1993). One of the most remarkable characteristics of the dance is its slow tempo in 4-beat measures, marked by the bass drum beat and accompanied by the tarol (a type of drum), ganzá (a cylindrical rattle) and maracá (maracas). The choreography is characterized by the formation of a circle of dancers who rotate sideways with two steps backward and forward, always marking the strong beat of the tempo with their left foot in front. The movements of hands and body are free. We can, however, highlight three of the most well-known steps: the onda [“wave”], the machucadinho [“little mash”] and the sacudidinho [“little shake”]. The emcees who command and lead the dance are called Mestre and Contramestre (as in most Brazilian folk manifestations of this type). They’re the ones who start the event, improvise and preside over the dance. Directed towards the center of the circle, the dancers all hold hands and move around clockwise and counter-clockwise. The lyrics of the cirandas can be improvised on the spot or can be from an already known song. Generally there is an instrumental introduction; then the solo and chorus alternate. The major/minor or modal/tonal binomial is strongly present, and the scope of melody reaches, at most, 10 notes. 

Bibliography

Borba, Tomáz e Graça, Fernando Lopes. 1962. Dicionário de Música Ilustrado (Illustrated Dictionary of Music). Lisboa. Cosmos Editores.

Cascudo, Luiz da Câmara. 1954. Dicionário do Folclore Brasileiro (Dictionary of Brazilian Folklore). Rio de Janeiro Edições de Ouro.

Colonelli, Cristina Argenton. 1979. Bibliografia do Folclore Brasileiro (Bibliography of Brazilian Folklore). São Paulo. Conselho Estadual de Arte e Culturas Humanas.

Maior, Souto. 1988. Antologia Pernambucana de Folclore (Pernambucana Anthology of Folklore). Recife. Editora Massangana.

Marcondes, Marcos Antônio (editor). 1977. Enciclopédia da Música Brasileira (Encyclopedia of Brazilian Music) (2 vol). São Paulo. Art Editora.

Discographical References:

Edu Lobo e Bethânia (Edu Lobo and Bethânia). LP. Elenco ME37. Polygram 512053-2. 1966. Brasil

Aquela Rosa/Cirandas (That Rose/Cirandas). Canta: Teca Calazans LP. 1967. Mocambo/Rozemblit. Brasil

Música Popular do Nordeste nº 2 (Northeast Popular Music). LP. Discos Marcus Pereira/ RCA. 1973. Brasil

A Ciranda de Dona Duda (Mrs. Duda’s Ciranda) LP-1975. Brasil

A Rainha da Ciranda- (The Queen of Ciranda) Lia de Itamaracá. LP. 1977. Brasil

Villa Lobos. Cirandas e Cirandinhas (Cirandas and Cirandinhas). Piano: Roberto Szidon. Kuarup.1979. Brasil

Eu sou Lia- CD (My Name is Lia). Ciranda Records- Sono Press-Rimo da Amazônia. 1985. Código de Barras 7898085 050323

As Aparências Enganam- (Appearances Deceive)Ney Matogrosso canta. Polygram 514688-2. 1993.

Recirandar- (To Recirandar)CD-1997. Secretaria de Cultura Turismo e Desportos de Recife. 1997.

Cirandeira- (Female Ciranda Dancer) Elba Ramalho canta. Sony BMG 7432842632. 2001.