Burle Marx: 4. Flora Amazonica (Violeiros de Guaratiba)

This piece is the most curious of the five movements in this suite. It is dark, atmospheric, and evocative. It incorporates long stretches of gradually increasing volume and intensity, a technique we seldom use. At times it sound like the jungle, and maybe the folkloric music of the indigenous people of the Amazon, and then harmonies becomes surprisingly dissonant and strained. It is substantial, at over six minutes, and requires some control to bring it off. To me, it is the most interesting piece in the suite. The score to this work is included in the Complete Guitar Works of Burle Marx, published by Clear Note Publications, and can be found here: