Rafael Bittencourt
Encyclopedia
Rafael Bittencourt is a Brazilian guitarist
, composer and co-founder of the band Angra
.
and other countries. In the USA, he played with a big band and in 1988 was awarded with the Louis Armstrong
prize as the best soloist.
Bittencourt took part in many choirs and different areas of dramaturgy
.
In 1996 he graduated as Composer
and Conductor
by Faculdade de Artes Santa Marcelina in São Paulo
.
Involved by the academic atmosphere, he formed a heavy metal
band that mixed his Latin roots and erudite formation, writing plays and collecting ideas for the project that later would be known as Angra
.
For three years he taught Language and Musical Structuring in the School of Music and Technology and advanced guitar techniques in Souza Lima conservatory.
In 2002 he was awarded as the best guitarist by European website 21stCenturyMetal and his name is always present in specialized magazines' awards for best guitarist and composer in the genre. Was a columnist of Cover Guitarra and Guitar Class magazines and collaborated with Guitar Player magazine.
Today, beyond his activities with Angra, he is a musical producer and tours Brazil having workshops on his composing style and guitar playing, managing a successful group, studio and live performance experiences, harmony
, structure, perception and much more. He is endorsed by YAMAHA
(electric guitar
), EGNATER (amplifiers), NIG
(strings), BOSS
(pedal
s), AudioTechnika (microphone
s), M-AUDIO
music production
gear and DiMarzio
guitar pickups
.
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, composer and co-founder of the band Angra
Angra (band)
Angra is a Brazilian metal band from São Paulo, Brazil known for its symphonic interludes, highly technical instrumental playing and Brazilian regional elements.- Biography :...
.
Biography
With a very broad formation, Bittencourt studied with the best guitar teachers in BrazilBrazil
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...
and other countries. In the USA, he played with a big band and in 1988 was awarded with the Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
prize as the best soloist.
Bittencourt took part in many choirs and different areas of dramaturgy
Dramaturgy
Dramaturgy is the art of dramatic composition and the representation of the main elements of drama on the stage. Dramaturgy is a distinct practice separate from play writing and directing, although a single individual may perform any combination of the three. Some dramatists combine writing and...
.
In 1996 he graduated as Composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and Conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
by Faculdade de Artes Santa Marcelina in São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
.
Involved by the academic atmosphere, he formed a heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band that mixed his Latin roots and erudite formation, writing plays and collecting ideas for the project that later would be known as Angra
Angra (band)
Angra is a Brazilian metal band from São Paulo, Brazil known for its symphonic interludes, highly technical instrumental playing and Brazilian regional elements.- Biography :...
.
For three years he taught Language and Musical Structuring in the School of Music and Technology and advanced guitar techniques in Souza Lima conservatory.
In 2002 he was awarded as the best guitarist by European website 21stCenturyMetal and his name is always present in specialized magazines' awards for best guitarist and composer in the genre. Was a columnist of Cover Guitarra and Guitar Class magazines and collaborated with Guitar Player magazine.
Today, beyond his activities with Angra, he is a musical producer and tours Brazil having workshops on his composing style and guitar playing, managing a successful group, studio and live performance experiences, harmony
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
, structure, perception and much more. He is endorsed by YAMAHA
Yamaha
Yamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...
(electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
), EGNATER (amplifiers), NIG
NIG
NIG is a three letter acronym that may also refer to:* Niger, a country in Africa* Nigger, a racial slur* Nigga, a slang term* Nig, Brady Langlois* Niglet a racial slur...
(strings), BOSS
Boss Corporation
Boss is a manufacturer of effects pedals for electric guitar and bass guitar. It is a division of the Roland Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer that specializes in musical equipment and accessories...
(pedal
Pedal
The word pedal comes from the Latin and relates to the foot.A pedal is a lever activated by one's foot. The term "foot pedal" is redundant, and should be avoided...
s), AudioTechnika (microphone
Microphone
A microphone is an acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal. In 1877, Emile Berliner invented the first microphone used as a telephone voice transmitter...
s), M-AUDIO
M-Audio
M-Audio is a business unit of Avid Technology that designs and markets digital audio and MIDI interfaces, keyboards and MIDI controllers, synthesizers, loudspeakers, studio monitors, digital DJ systems, microphones, and music software...
music production
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
gear and DiMarzio
DiMarzio
DiMarzio, Inc. is an United States manufacturer best known for its revolutionary direct-replacement guitar pickups. The company also produces miscellaneous guitar accessories, such as cables, straps and hardware.DiMarzio became known for its Super Distortion model, which was the first after...
guitar pickups
Pickup (music technology)
A pickup device is a transducer that captures mechanical vibrations, usually from suitably equipped stringed instruments such as the electric guitar, electric bass guitar, Chapman Stick, or electric violin, and converts them to an electrical signal that is amplified, recorded, or broadcast.-...
.
Discography with Angra
- Reaching HorizonsReaching Horizons (EP/Demo)Reaching Horizons is a demo by Brazilian power metal band Angra released in 1992.-Track listing:# "Evil Warning" – 06:24# "Time" – 05:40# "Reaching Horizons" – 05:35# "Carry On" – 06:35# "Queen Of The Night" – 04:56# "Angels Cry" – 07:16...
(Demo Tape, 1992) - Angels Cry (Album, 1993)
- "Evil Warning" (Single, 1994)
- Holy LandHoly Land (album)Holy Land is a 1996 metal concept album by Angra. Its theme is centered around the Brazilian land by the time it was discovered in the 16th century, as depicted in the art surrounding the album release. Once fully opened, the cover illustration turns out to be an old 15th-century map...
(Album, 1996) - "Make Believe (I, II, III, IV)" (Single, 1996)
- Freedom CallFreedom Call (EP)Freedom Call is an EP by the heavy metal band Angra.-Track listing:#"Freedom Call"#"Queen of the Night" #"Reaching Horizons" #"Stand Away" #"Painkiller"...
(EP, 1996) - Holy LiveHoly LiveHoly Live is a live album by Brazilian heavy metal band Angra. It was recorded in Paris in 1996. According to the band, only six tracks were of sufficient quality to be released...
(Live EP, 1997) - "Lisbon" (Single, 1998)
- FireworksFireworks (Angra album)Fireworks is the third album by Angra, released in 1998, and the last to feature the original lineup.- Track listing :- Personnel :* Andre Matos - Vocals, Keyboards* Kiko Loureiro - Guitar* Rafael Bittencourt - Guitar* Luis Mariutti - Bass...
(Album, 1998) - "Rainy Nights" (Single, 1998)
- "Acid Rain" (Single, 2001)
- RebirthRebirth (Angra album)Rebirth is the fourth album by Angra, the first since a major restructuring of the band's line-up.-Track listing:#"In Excelsis" - 1:03#"Nova Era" - 4:52...
(Album, 2001) - Rebirth World Tour - Live in São PauloRebirth World Tour - Live in São PauloRebirth World Tour – Live in São Paulo is a live album by Brazilian power metal band Angra.-Disc one:# "In Excelsis" - 1:53#*Instrumental# "Nova Era" - 4:53...
(Live, 2001) - Hunters and Prey (EP, 2002)
- Temple of ShadowsTemple of ShadowsTemple of Shadows is a concept album by the power metal band Angra and was released in 2004 by Paradoxx Music in Brazil and SPV label Steamhammer in the rest of the world...
(Album, 2004) - "Wishing WellWishing Well"Wishing Well" is a song of Sananda Maitreya for the album Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby, and hit number one on both the Soul Singles Chart and the Billboard Hot 100 on ....
" (Single, 2004) - "The Course Of Nature" (Single, 2006)
- Aurora ConsurgensAurora Consurgens (album)Aurora Consurgens is an album by the power metal band Angra. It was released in October 2006 by Paradoxx Music in Brazil and SPV label Steamhammer in the rest of the world...
(Album, 2006) - AquaAqua (Angra album)- Standard version :- Disc 1 :- Disc 2 :- Side one :- Side two :- Side three :- Side four :- Personnel :* Eduardo Falaschi - Vocals* Kiko Loureiro - Guitar* Rafael Bittencourt - Guitar...
(Album, 2010)