Projeto Arcomusical Review

Arcomusical made this Sunday a night to appreciate and remember. Set in a giant auditorium, with lovely acoustics, accommodating lights, and plenty of passion, the indoor space dedicated to art and learning was a lovely place to see this group shine. There was a large crowd, which added to the excitement. This venue is beautiful, but I would say there was a tad too much light. Had there been more "mood lighting", the vibe would have seemed a little less like a classroom. But nonetheless, this sextet used the space, and used it well.  Their performance was not just a musical representation, but a choreographed piece of art. Every movement seemed to have meaning, as well as a connection to the next sound or step. And the group blends so well together. One member will add something special to a song, and the rest will follow, creating a beautiful sound and feeling. It didn't hurt that their outfits were on fire, matching and professional, yet relaxed and unique to each individual. Plus, they all were wearing sambas. I have owned sambas for a few years now, so that was my personal connection to the group. It was extremely relevant to the recent growth of millennials wearing these shoes more and more.

Watching them play, made it seem like they would be totally content playing their instruments forever, for no money. With or without a crowd, on a stage or in a field, as long as they are together, their musical relationships are unstoppable. They really love what they do and the instruments they play. That passion was flying all around the room and bouncing off the walls, jumping into the audience's hearts. Not to mention, this group has been traveling abroad since 2013 playing music together, so they must know a thing or two about one another. That chemistry was also very present and added to the performance. 

If I were to guess, I would say these six musicians play and perform not just because it pays the bills and is really fun, but teaching others about their love is so important to them. And of course they are a non-profit organization, raising awareness for the Afro-Brazilian berimbau and related African bows. Their mission and goals were not straight up said, but the heart surrounding them were definitely felt. By sharing their knowledge and skills, they get to share the thing that their life essentially revolves around. These instruments (berimbaus) are not common in the United States, so the majority of people would not know what to think at a show with them. They are delicately built by David "Snappy" White, with elegant, beautiful detail. Not to mention, the sound is so clean and effortless. At first, the audience seemed surprised, because as noted earlier, these instruments are not necessarily present in our everyday lives. After the guest performer played a few songs, and Arcomusical returned to the spotlight, people seemed to be more and more into it. That contrast of the guest sound and the berimbaus flowed well into one another. 

The small fluctuations of the pitches of each instrument were pretty easy to be picked out, but there were times when there would be a really high note and I wasn't certain which instrument it was coming from. Especially in the second song, "Apenas Seja", composed originally by Alexis C. Lamb in 1993, there were unique sounds that had my eyes rocking back and forth, trying to figure out where they were all coming from. In the third and fourth songs from Arcomusical, there were harmonics and vibrato created by the movement of the instruments with respect to the players' bodies that I was most excited about. The positions of the six performers also added to the feeling, for standing in a half-moon formation made every bounce or stomp or smile feel six times as powerful. I wasn't able to pick out a "leader", for it seemed that from song to song, that label would switch musicians. Each musician did have consistent characteristics, whether it was a certain smile or a dance move. There was a lot of communication with the eyes. I'm sure there was more going on than the audience could easily pick up, but I did notice some exchanged looks and facial expressions. 

I always love going to see live music, because no matter what anyone says, it touches me more than just listening to a record or watching a video on youtube. You get to see the personalities (or lack of), the costumes/outfits, and the connections between performers and the audience. I especially love seeing music that is unfamiliar. My life motto is to always challenge myself, see new things, meet new people, and always be learning. Seeing a new musical group, with instruments I had never even heard of, definitely fit that goal. Plus, as mentioned before, they were all wearing sambas, as I was wearing mine. Overall, it was a wonderful performance to attend, and gave me another point of view of music, people, and life. And that is not just a cliche, but it is a truth, for exposing myself to new things is always important.