Na Quadrada das Águas Perdidas
Elomar
1979
Why This Album Matters
Na Quadrada das Águas Perdidas, released in 1978, is a work that delves deeply into the unique universe of Elomar Figueira Mello, an artist who forged his own unmistakable musical language. His compositions are notable for the strong presence of dialectal variants, archaisms and neologisms, constructing a highly characteristic sertaneja orality that became his signature. The album's lyrics, as in all his work, traverse a wide range of themes, invariably linked to the rural imagination of the Northeastern sertão. However, this landscape is enriched by mediaeval, Christian and Iberian elements, weaving a sonic tapestry that, in the words of critics, is like a “song of millennia”, uniting the great epic narrative and the genres of mediaeval poetry with snapshots of sertaneja life. Musically, Elomar also stands out for his particular guitar playing style, frequently altering the instrument's tuning to create unique sonorities.
Context
Before releasing Na Quadrada das Águas Perdidas, Elomar Figueira Mello had already begun his musical journey after being discovered by producer Roberto Sant'Ana in Salvador, while studying architecture at UFBA, where he also had a brief stint at the School of Music. His first album, Das Barrancas do Rio Gavião, in 1972, marked the beginning of a more consistent investment in his musical career. During this period, Elomar already demonstrated the influence of Iberian and Arab traditions, bequeathed by Portuguese colonisation to Northeastern Brazil, elements that would consolidate and deepen in the 1978 album. The originality of his work was already recognised by names such as Vinicius de Moraes, who praised his previous work, underlining the artist's deep connection with the arid environment of the sertão.
Recording
The album Na Quadrada das Águas Perdidas was recorded at the Music Seminary of the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA). For this work, Elomar collaborated with other musicians and performers, such as Elena Rodrigues, Dércio Marques, Xangai and Carlos Pitta, who contributed to the album's peculiar sonic atmosphere.
Songs
The songs on Na Quadrada das Águas Perdidas are a vivid example of Elomar's compositional style, where the sertaneja dialectal language, as the artist himself calls it, is a constant. Linguistic variants from the caatinga predominate, often in an archaising manner, but the composer also fluidly transitions between formal style and classical vernacular language. This linguistic dynamic in Elomar's compositions allows for constant renewal and transformation, with examples such as the pronominal variation between “ancê”, “iancê” and “você” within the same work. Furthermore, polyglossia is another striking characteristic of his texts, where he easily manipulates the sertanejo dialect, that of the pampas, cultured Portuguese, archaic and mediaeval Portuguese, and even foreign languages, creating a lyrical universe of rich complexity.
Rankings
Tracks
Credits
Carlos Pita, Dercio Marques
Alcivando Luz
Elomar
Dercio Marques
Elena Rodrigues
Films
Books
Analyses
Elomar - Na Quadrada das Águas Perdidas (1979)
musicasdonordeste.net
Mesclando um repertório de clássicos da MPB, música nordestina e sucessos dos três artistas, este projeto é a junção de tudo o que houve de melhor das três edições anteriores. E traz ainda três faixas inéditas para enriquecer ainda mais o repertório e um cenário deslumbrante.
Elomar - Na Quadrada das Águas Perdidas
umcatalogo.substack.com
"Na Quadrada das Águas Perdidas" é um salto monumental de forma e como obra artística. Apesar do primeiro álbum ser mais conhecido e reverenciado, o que ele faz nesse disco duplo é um esculacho puro e absoluto.
Terra Brasilis 2: Elomar - Na Quadrada Das Águas Perdidas
terrabrasilis2.blogspot.com
Este artigo busca focar, de forma mais detida, mediante análise da letra da canção Canto de guerreiro mongoió, as representações elomarianas do sertão histórico-geográfico em que o compositor se insere enquanto indivíduo e enquanto artista - o Sertão da Ressaca.
Vinil Campina: Elomar - 1979 - Na Quadrada Das Águas Perdidas
vinilcampina.blogspot.com
10 Função (Elomar) DISCO 2 Faixas 1 Noite de Santo Reis (Elomar) 2 Cantoria Pastoral (Elomar) 3 O Rapto de Joana do Tarugo (Elomar) 4 Canto de Guerreiro Mongoio (Elomar) 5 Clariô (Elomar) 6 Bespa (Do ''Auto da Catingueira'') (Elomar) 7 Dassanta (Do ''Auto da Catingueira'') (Elomar) 8 Curvas do Rio (Elomar) 9 Tirana (Elomar) 10 Puluxias (Elomar)
Elomar - Na Quadrada Das Águas Perdidas (1979) - Rádio Olisipo
radiolisipo.com
Elomar - Na Quadrada Das Águas Perdidas (1979) Memória de Elefante 21/12/24 Autor: Francesco Valente Uma rubrica que revela eventos, curiosidades, lançamentos, aniversários e fatos históricos ligados ao universo da música popular mundial.
Discogs
Na Quadrada das Águas Perdidas – Discogs
discogs.com