Several times awarded and acknowledged as the best classic guitar duo in th… Read Full Bio ↴Several times awarded and acknowledged as the best classic guitar duo in the world, the Sérgio & Odair Assad duo (also known as Duo Assad and The Assad Brothers) was formed by the brothers Sérgio Assad and Odair Assad at a very early age. Beginning to play the violão (acoustic guitar) at exactly the same time, they always studied with the same teachers and learned the same music and techniques and their exceptional functioning together derives of their profound understanding of each other, allied to a rare identification between brothers.

Eminent Brazilian erudite composers like Radamés Gnattali, Marlos Nobre, Edino Krieger, and Francisco Mignone have dedicated pieces to them and so did Roland Dyens, Nikita Koshkin, and Ástor Piazzolla. Their father, a mandolinist and chorão (choro genre player), initiated them in the mysteries of the violão in 1966. With all the family moving in 1969 to Rio de Janeiro, the two brothers took classical guitarist and lutenist Monina Távora (former Andrés Segovia disciple) as teacher for seven years. In 1973 they won the Brazilian Symphonic Orchestra competition for young soloists. In 1977 they recorded an LP for the first time with the Orquestra Armorial. They would record more than 21 solo albums in the duo's career and appear in important releases such as Yo Yo Ma's Soul of the Tango CD (1997). In 1979 they debuted in the U.S. Their start in Europe came with the winning of a major prize that same year at the "Rostrum of Young Interpreters" in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia (with the recording of a solo album). In 1983, having established their international career solidly, they settled in that continent. Performances (some of them with orchestra) throughout Scandinavia, Australia, Finland (Turku Music Festival, 1987), Great Britain, Turkey (Istambul festival, 1987), Taiwan, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Germany, Austria, Portugal, Greece, Poland, France (Paris, 1982, Les Musiques du Monde festival), Belgium, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Holland, Hong Kong, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Canada, Israel, Japan, Argentina, and Brazil followed. The duo played with the following orchestras, among others: Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira, Adelaide Symphonic Orchestra (Australia), Buenos Aires Symphonic Orchestra (Argentina), RAI (Italy), and Belgium National Orchestra. In 1993 and 1994 they performed at the Carnegie's Weill Recital Hall in New York. In 1995, they toured North America, performing at Toronto's Ford Centre, Phoenix, Nashville, the Wolf Trap Foundation in Vienna, Virginia, and New York City. In the next year, they played at Pasadena's Ambassador Auditorium and in San Francisco, Seattle, Miami, and New York City.

A lendo do caboclo
Sérgio & Odair Assad Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Nessa estrada boiadeira
Eu mais minha viola
Vamos levando cantoria
Pra passar a noite
Até o amanhecer

Êh, trem bão Campinas
Lá na Paioça do caboclo

Fumo de rolo e uma pinga
Fogão de lenha
E uma história no final

Nessa vida de cantador
Muitos amigos a gente faz
Cada lugar é uma lembrança
Cada verso uma esperança de paz

Cantador, minha viola
Canta a dor, no ponteado

Chora viola.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Sérgio & Odair Assad's song "A lenda do caboclo" evoke a sense of nostalgia and simplicity, portraying a journey through the countryside with a guitar and singing as companions. The boiadeira road mentioned in the first verse symbolizes a rustic path traveled by cowherds, where the singer and their guitar are bringing music and songs along the way, creating a soundtrack for the night until dawn breaks. This imagery sets the scene for a journey of music, companionship, and storytelling in a rural setting.

The second verse brings focus to Campinas and the "Paioça do caboclo," suggesting a rustic, cozy place where simple pleasures like hand-rolled tobacco, homemade moonshine, a wood stove, and shared stories are enjoyed. The mention of these elements creates a vivid image of a communal space filled with warmth, hospitality, and a sense of camaraderie. It reflects the idea of finding contentment in life's small joys and in the company of friends, emphasizing the importance of human connection and shared experiences.

The lyrics further delve into the life of a troubadour, highlighting the significance of friendship and memories created along the way. Each place visited becomes a cherished memory, and each verse sung carries a message of hope for peace. The troubadour's role is not only to entertain but also to create connections and spread positivity through their music. This verse emphasizes the power of music to unite people, evoke emotions, and inspire optimism even in challenging times.

The closing lines, "Cantador, minha viola / Canta a dor, no ponteado / Chora viola," encapsulate the troubadour's relationship with their guitar. The troubadour's guitar becomes a vessel for expressing pain and sorrow through music, allowing them to transform their hardships into art. The act of singing and playing the guitar becomes a cathartic release, enabling the troubadour to convey their emotions and connect with others through the universal language of music. The poignant imagery of the guitar weeping reflects the depth of emotion and storytelling captured in the troubadour's musical journey.

Line by Line Meaning

Nessa estrada boiadeira
On this cattle-driving road,

Eu mais minha viola
I, along with my guitar,

Vamos levando cantoria
Are traveling along, singing songs,

Pra passar a noite
To fill the night time,

Até o amanhecer
Until the break of dawn.

Êh, trem bão Campinas
Oh, what a wonderful experience in Campinas,

Lá na Paioça do caboclo
There, at the rustic home of the local man,

Fumo de rolo e uma pinga
With roll-your-own tobacco and a traditional spirit,

Fogão de lenha
A wood-fired stove,

E uma história no final
And a story to tell at the end.

Nessa vida de cantador
In this life of a singer,