The Music of Capoeira Angola

Unlike the great majority of the martial arts, in Capoeira Angola the use of music is essential. Without the music, the body has no vibration, and one can't play or dance. The music is deeply and intimately related to the movement, to the jogo and the spirituality. Through the music, the teacher or Mestre, can intervene in order to influence and condition the players' behavior. He is able to influence, criticize, joke with, praise, or even challenge both of the capoeiristas.The music in Capoeira Angola is divided into three different parts: ladainha, chula and corrido.

LADAINHA

It is the moment of maximum internal concentration when the two players are kneeled at the foot of the berimbau - it is a prayer/oration made by the capoeirista. The singer recounts a history or myth, passes a message to the listeners. During the singing of the ladainha all attention is focused on the Ladainha.

CHULA

After the ladainha, the singer salutes and pays tribute to God, the ancestors, to his fellow capoeiristas, and amongst other things makes prayers and requests. The players answer the singer, repeating each verse of the chula:It is important that during the ladainha and the chula, both Capoeira players wait at the foot of the berimbau, until it is allowed for them to start the jogo (game).

CORRIDO

At the moment when the singer starts the corrido, the capoeiristas are ready to play. The corrido, like the chula, is a type of “call-response” song. The corrido, however, is characterized by a single repeated response for each song. The corridos are generally chosen by the singer with the purpose of demonstrating what is occurring during the jogo or in the roda of Capoeira in general.