Lá em cima da janela
da janela do sobrado
Tinha uma moça chorando
Chorando pra se acabar
Por causa do Cordão de Ouro
Ai meu bem, que o ladrão tinha roubado
Mas não chore dona moça
Que o ladrão já tá sendo procurado
Quem pegar este ladrão
Oi, ai, ai! Será bem recompensado
Dou um berimbau maneiro
Ai, Ai, Ai! Dou um gunga ritmado
Oi Chiquinho ê, oi Chiquinho a
Oi a menina de outro mandou me chamar
Oi Chiquinho ê, oi Chiquinho a
Oi na volta que o mundo deu
E na volta que o mundo dá
Oi Chiquinho ê, oi Chiquinho a
There up in the window
the window of the last storey
A young wowan was crying
Crying for it to stop
She was crying for the golden rope
my friend, that the thief had stolen
But dont cry, dear young woman
because the thief is already being searched for
Whoever catches this thief
will be well rewarded
I play the berimbau nicely
I gave a rhythmic gunga
O Chiquinho ê, o Chiquinho a
The girl of the other, sent someone for me
O Chiquinho ê, o Chiquinho a
In the spins that the world made
And in the spins that world will make
O Chiquinho ê, o Chiquinho a
Did you know?
Berimbau
- The berimbau is a single-string musical bow of African origin that functions as the absolute leader and commander of the roda.
- The instrument dictates the exact speed, stylistic tone, and combat intensity of the capoeiristas through specific rhythms known as toques.
- A traditional berimbau is constructed from a wooden staff, a steel wire, a hollowed gourd resonator, a small stone or coin, a bamboo shaker, and a wooden thin stick.
- In a traditional orchestra, three distinct pitches are used: the deep-toned gunga to lead the group, the medium médio to hold the rhythm, and the high-pitched viola to improvise.
- Enslaved Africans historically used the live music of the bow to camouflage their outlawed martial art, making the training look like an innocent dance to colonial authorities.
- Today, the instrument holds a sacred status within the art, and capoeiristas show immense reverence toward it, celebrating its spiritual voice in countless traditional songs.
Gunga
- The gunga is the largest and lowest-pitched berimbau in the orchestra, distinct for having the most massive gourd resonator and a highly flexible wooden staff.
- Because its large, hollowed gourd acts as a powerful amplifier, it produces a deep, heavy, and resonant bass tone that commands the room.
- In the musical hierarchy of the roda, it serves as the absolute leader, conductor, and master instrument that all other musicians must listen to and follow.
- Its primary role is to establish and strictly maintain the core rhythm—or toque—of the game, remaining steady without breaking into spontaneous improvisations.
- The capoeirista playing the gunga holds the highest authority in the roda, possessing the unique power to start the music, invite players to start, or stop the game instantly.
- Today, mastering the gunga represents immense experience, demanding a deep sense of responsibility, rhythmic control, and absolute awareness of the roda's energy.