sambaenredo

Sambaenredo, also written samba-enredo, is the official song of a samba school used in the annual Carnival parades in Brazil, most notably in Rio de Janeiro. It narrates the school’s enredo (theme) for that year’s parade and serves as a musical link between the floats, dancers, and costumes. The song is composed to be performed by the school’s chorus and bateria, with a lead singer guiding the performance.

Creation and structure: The samba-enredo is typically created by a group of composers appointed by the school, sometimes led by a carnavalesco or compositor team. The composition combines percussion, melody, and lyrics that tell the enredo story, often through verses and a memorable refrain. The standard structure includes an introduction, verses that develop the narrative, a final chorus, and a coda intended to rally the crowd.

Performance and competition: During the samba school’s presentation at the Sambódromo, the samba-enredo is sung throughout the parade by the school’s singers and participants. The choreography, costumes, floats, and staging are synchronized to the song, and the parade is judged on criteria including cohesion with the enredo, harmony, interpretation, and musicality.

Significance: The samba-enredo is central to the social and cultural fabric of Brazilian Carnival, shaping the artistic identity of samba schools and guiding public engagement. Songs are often released in advance as albums or singles and revised for performances in subsequent parades or recordings.