Levaguiã Terê
Vitor Araújo
2016
Why This Album Matters
Levaguiã Terê, released in 2016, represents a fundamental milestone in the artistic trajectory of pianist and composer Vitor Araújo. This double album solidified him as one of the most original and ambitious voices of his generation, moving him away from the image of a "child prodigy" to that of a mature and experimental creator. The work stands out for its complexity and its audacious fusion of musical elements. Araújo weaves a sonic tapestry that combines textures of classical music, rhythms of African origin, Indigenous, and electronic sounds, all under an orchestral architecture that is simultaneously modern and conceptual. The result is a profoundly Brazilian work, yet with universal reach, where the delicacy of the arrangements coexists with an at times rock-inflected and experimental vibe, which the artist himself even defined as pop, defying simplistic categorisations. It is an album that demands and rewards the listener's attention, offering a sonic experience rich in layers and meanings, which reveals more with each new listen.
Context
Before Levaguiã Terê, Vitor Araújo had already gained recognition as a talented classical pianist and, in 2012, had released the acclaimed "A/B", his debut as a composer, which already hinted at an experimental path. However, the artist felt the need to deepen his knowledge of composition, moving to São Paulo to study with Professor Mário Ficarelli. The initial idea for the new album was to explore themes related to Candomblé. However, Vitor's trip to Catimbau National Park, in Pernambuco, and contact with an Indigenous legend about a bird that flies beneath the world transformed the conception of the work. This legend of "levaguiã terê" became the core of the album, expanding it into a profound reflection on Brazilian cultural syncretism, encompassing Black, Indigenous, and European heritages.
Recording
Levaguiã Terê is a double album, released with the support of the Natura Musical public tender. The production was spearheaded by Bruno Giorgi in partnership with Vitor Araújo himself, with Giorgi also taking on the sound engineering, from recording to mastering, ensuring the sonic unity of the complex work. The instrumentation is vast and diverse, transcending the piano, which in many tracks acts as an element of the orchestra and not as the main soloist. The album features a notable cast of musicians, including percussionists Nego Henrique, Rafa Almeida (formerly of Cordel do Fogo Encantado), and Amendoim. Felipe Pacheco Ventura, guitarist of the band Baleia, co-signed the transition tracks "Espelho / Rotunda" and "Rotunda / Espelho", while Mateus Alves contributed to the composition of "Toque n. 4: Caldí-Naguará". A full orchestra, with strings, woodwind, brass, and vibraphone, was used to create the symphonic arrangements that define the album's sound.
Songs
The album is conceptually divided into two parts, "Toques" (on the first disc) and "Cantos" (on the second), totalling fourteen tracks that connect in a continuous dialogue. Each "Toque" and "Canto" has a particular subtitle, such as "Turvalema", "Ôgiffoxó", "Arcalandir" and "Túme Vaga-Lua", the names of which were carefully researched by Vitor Araújo and Professor Silvio Moreira in search of words of Indigenous, Yoruba, and European origin that fell into disuse, referring to little-documented myths and stories. The compositions are rich in influences, ranging from avant-garde music and experimental pop by artists such as Radiohead, Björk, and The Knife, to the orchestral grandeur of Heitor Villa-Lobos and Tom Jobim's more experimental phase. The opening track, "Toque Nº 1: Rando Fálcigo", over nine minutes long, is an example of the album's instrumental ambition, building a sonic whirlwind that reflects the artist's meticulousness. Araújo's piano, which has always been his hallmark, integrates into the orchestra, becoming one element among many, except on "Toque n. 4: Caldí-Naguará", where it assumes a solo role.
Legacy
Levaguiã Terê was widely acclaimed by specialist critics, frequently appearing in various "best of the year" lists for 2016. Critics described it as "one of the best Brazilian music albums of 2016" and "the biggest and most ambitious national album of the year", solidifying Vitor Araújo as one of the great names of his generation. The work received an average of 4.75 out of 5 stars on platforms such as Discogs, based on user reviews. The album, initially released on CD, gained a double vinyl edition via Nutriot Recordings in 2019, which demonstrates its lasting appeal and recognition within the experimental and contemporary music scene. Its impact lies in how it managed to synthesise a vast range of cultural and musical references, proposing a new approach to Brazilian concert and experimental music.
Rankings
Tracks
Videos
Vitor Araújo - Levaguiã Terê ALBUM REVIEW (PT-BR)
O Audiófilo
Analyses
Resenha: "Levaguiã Terê", Vitor Araújo - Música Instantânea
musicainstantanea.com.br
Passada a divisão criada pelas atmosféricas Espelho / Rotunda e Rotunda / Espelho, Araújo segue em direção ao lado mais experimental e curioso do disco. Livre dos temas "cinematográficos" que ocupam o primeiro ato do trabalho, o pianista encontra no uso da própria voz um poderoso instrumento.
Uma ideia com Vitor Araújo sobre 'Levaguiã Terê', o melhor disco de ...
vice.com
Em setembro deste ano ele lançou Levaguiã Terê, um álbum duplo, seu segundo, uma obra impressionantemente bem feita, pensada e cuidada com zêlo.
Hominis Canidae: Vitor Araújo - Levaguiã Terê (2016)...
hominiscanidae.org
Conceitualmente dividido de em duas metades, durante todo o primeiro ato, Levaguiã Terê — o nome vem de um pássaro mitológico do folclore indígena —, reserva ao público uma coleção de temas orquestrais, sempre provocativos, intensos.
Vítor Araujo - Levaguiã Terê - midsummer madness
midsummermadness.com.br
O pianista e compositor Vitor Araújo lançou em 2016 seu 3º álbum, um cd duplo lançado com apoio do edital Natura Musical. Quem conhece Vitor como o prodígio de 17 anos que tocava Radiohead no piano, esqueça: o menino cresceu. "Levaguiã Terê" é um disco complexo, de uma beleza quase impenetrável.
Pianista Vitor Araújo voa alto no tom afro-indígena do disco 'Levaguiã ...
g1.globo.com
Batizado com o nome de pássaro cultuado pelo folclore indígena, Levaguiã Terê investe na mistura de sons indígenas, africanos e europeus com um toque brasileiro.
Discogs
Levaguiã Terê – Discogs
discogs.com