i really like this video. i came across it during a yt dive a couple weeks ago i think, and it really hit me. the main musician was a man named hermeto pascoal, he was born in brazil with albinism. this stopped him from working with his family in agriculture, so he turned to music. he has a very sagely sense to him in this video, surrounded by younger people playing accompaniment for this composition, "musica da lagoa". there's something striking to me about the sophistication of the simple and elementary in this. especially the last part with all of the musicians slapping the water as percussion. how many times have you done that? maybe not many, but for me i definitely have, i spent a lot of time around water growing up, and the water slapping is just an instinctual part of it. we do it. but here it is done with a respect towards it. its not just thrown out there, theyre saying "no, this is music too. its all music." the wine bottles make me think of this as well. what most consider a party trick is here considered just as worthy as a woodwind. i also really like the part where he plays the flute while dipping in and out of the water, i think the sound is really great.
i imagine the reason this came up on my feed was an influx of people returning to his work after pascoal's death, on september 13 of this year (2025). its sad to hear, but i think the music he left behind will always be a wonderful legacy, and this composition in particular really speaks to me about the playful nature of humanity, especially in art.