Banda de Ipanema
Encyclopedia
Banda de Ipanema is one of the highlights of Rio de Janeiro
's street Carnival festivities. The first parade happened in 1965, when Brazil
was under a military dictatorship
. In 2004 it was declared part of the city's cultural heritage. The first parade happens on Saturday two weeks before Carnival
, and they march again on Carnival Saturday and Carnival Tuesday (Mardi-Gras).
The event attracts as many as 20 thousand people to the streets of Ipanema
.
. Designer Ferdy Carneiro rented a bus in 1959 to take some of his Carioca
friends to spend Carnival in his hometown. The event was headed by the presidents of the band, dressed in white suits and hats while pretending to play musical instruments. The actual band was in the back, and the whole town followed along.
The idea lingered on, and a few years later Ferdy, Albino and Claudio Pinheiro, Jaguar, Ziraldo and Zelio, Hugo Bidet, Roniquito Chevalier and other personalities organized the first parade. They hired the band of the Navy School, gathered to warm up at Bar Jangadeiros, around Praca General Osorio, and started marching on the streets with just a few dozen friends - the founders dressed up as "presidents". When they reached the next pit stop, Bar Velloso (later renamed Garota de Ipanema), there were already something like 500 people! Ipanema residents loved the idea, climbed down from their apartments and simply joined in.
Banda de Ipanema had many personalities invited to be the godmother, but the one that best represented the irreverent spirit of the Banda was actress Leila Diniz. This Ipanema local was loved by her carefree attitude - among other feats, she was the first pregnant woman ever to proudly display her belly in a bikini at Ipanema Beach. After Albino Pinheiro passed away, his brother Claudio Pinheiro took over the task of organizing the parades.
A very touching moment is when the Banda passes by the Church of Nossa Senhora da Paz. There is a tribute to composer Pixinguinha
, who died in the church on a Carnival day - while attending to a baptism. The band stops and, after a moment of silence, they start playing Carinhoso, one of his most popular songs. Everybody sings along, in a sort of public catharsis.
Banda de Ipanema was declared part of the cultural heritage of Rio de Janeiro on January 23, 2004 by the Instituto Brasileiro de Patrimonio Cultural, in a recognition of the important role it played in the rebirth of Rio Carnival
Street Festivities . To give you an idea of the proportions, in 2009 there were about 400 street bands registered officially. The largest one, Monobloco
, reportedly gathered 400 thousand revelers on Sunday the week after Carnival along Av. Rio Branco, in the Downtown area.
Like all other street Carnival festivities in Rio, the event is free - you do not have to pay to join the fun. The gathering spot is at Praca General Osorio around 4 p.m., and the band starts marching around 5:30 p.m. The repertoire includes old-time marchinhas including some that date back to the days of Carmen Miranda
. These are familiar songs that all Cariocas can sing along to. In the latest years there's also the Bandinha de Ipanema, that is specifically aimed at the children, and happens within the confines of Praca General Osorio.
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
's street Carnival festivities. The first parade happened in 1965, when Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
was under a military dictatorship
Military dictatorship
A military dictatorship is a form of government where in the political power resides with the military. It is similar but not identical to a stratocracy, a state ruled directly by the military....
. In 2004 it was declared part of the city's cultural heritage. The first parade happens on Saturday two weeks before Carnival
Carnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
, and they march again on Carnival Saturday and Carnival Tuesday (Mardi-Gras).
The event attracts as many as 20 thousand people to the streets of Ipanema
Ipanema
For other uses, see Ipanema . For the British rock band, see Ipanema .Ipanema is a neighborhood located in the southern region of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between Leblon and Arpoador...
.
History of Banda de Ipanema
The format of the band was inspired by the Philarmonica Embocadura, a Carnival street band in the city of Uba, in the neighboring state of Minas GeraisMinas Gerais
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
. Designer Ferdy Carneiro rented a bus in 1959 to take some of his Carioca
Carioca
Carioca is a Portuguese adjective or demonym that is used to refer to the native inhabitants of the city of Rio de Janeiro - capital of the homonym state , in Brazil...
friends to spend Carnival in his hometown. The event was headed by the presidents of the band, dressed in white suits and hats while pretending to play musical instruments. The actual band was in the back, and the whole town followed along.
The idea lingered on, and a few years later Ferdy, Albino and Claudio Pinheiro, Jaguar, Ziraldo and Zelio, Hugo Bidet, Roniquito Chevalier and other personalities organized the first parade. They hired the band of the Navy School, gathered to warm up at Bar Jangadeiros, around Praca General Osorio, and started marching on the streets with just a few dozen friends - the founders dressed up as "presidents". When they reached the next pit stop, Bar Velloso (later renamed Garota de Ipanema), there were already something like 500 people! Ipanema residents loved the idea, climbed down from their apartments and simply joined in.
Banda de Ipanema had many personalities invited to be the godmother, but the one that best represented the irreverent spirit of the Banda was actress Leila Diniz. This Ipanema local was loved by her carefree attitude - among other feats, she was the first pregnant woman ever to proudly display her belly in a bikini at Ipanema Beach. After Albino Pinheiro passed away, his brother Claudio Pinheiro took over the task of organizing the parades.
Banda de Ipanema These Days
These days one of the major attraction of Banda de Ipanema is the colorful parade of drag queens in impossible costumes and performances. They interact with locals and visitors, stop for photos, and make everyone feel welcome to the party. A funny fact is that they were not there in the beginning, they just started to show. Along the years they became a more than welcome addition with their revelry and flamboyance.A very touching moment is when the Banda passes by the Church of Nossa Senhora da Paz. There is a tribute to composer Pixinguinha
Pixinguinha
Alfredo da Rocha Viana, Jr., better known as Pixinguinha was a composer, arranger, flautist and saxophonist born in Rio de Janeiro. Pixinguinha is considered one of the greatest Brazilian composers of popular music, particularly within the genre of music known as choro...
, who died in the church on a Carnival day - while attending to a baptism. The band stops and, after a moment of silence, they start playing Carinhoso, one of his most popular songs. Everybody sings along, in a sort of public catharsis.
Banda de Ipanema was declared part of the cultural heritage of Rio de Janeiro on January 23, 2004 by the Instituto Brasileiro de Patrimonio Cultural, in a recognition of the important role it played in the rebirth of Rio Carnival
Rio Carnival
The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is a world famous festival held before Lent every year and considered the biggest carnival in the world with two million people per day on the streets. The first festivals of Rio date back to 1723.-Samba schools:...
Street Festivities . To give you an idea of the proportions, in 2009 there were about 400 street bands registered officially. The largest one, Monobloco
Monobloco
Monobloco is a Brazilian bloco, or street band, that plays during Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro and is also a professional touring show. Unlike most of Rio's blocos, which tend play one type of music , Monobloco has become extremely popular among younger people because of its 'fresh' sound, playing a...
, reportedly gathered 400 thousand revelers on Sunday the week after Carnival along Av. Rio Branco, in the Downtown area.
Like all other street Carnival festivities in Rio, the event is free - you do not have to pay to join the fun. The gathering spot is at Praca General Osorio around 4 p.m., and the band starts marching around 5:30 p.m. The repertoire includes old-time marchinhas including some that date back to the days of Carmen Miranda
Carmen Miranda
Carmen Miranda, GCIH was a Portuguese-born Brazilian samba singer, Broadway actress and Hollywood film star popular in the 1940s and 1950s. She was, by some accounts, the highest-earning woman in the United States and noted for her signature fruit hat outfit she wore in the 1943 movie The Gang's...
. These are familiar songs that all Cariocas can sing along to. In the latest years there's also the Bandinha de Ipanema, that is specifically aimed at the children, and happens within the confines of Praca General Osorio.