Yrupa Purahéi: songs by the riverbanks
Yrupa Purahei is a project developed by the Purahei Trio, based on an original concept by Dr Romy Martinez.
Following the trio’s first album, which focused on popular Paraguayan music, this new project marks a departure towards new musical landscapes.
Traveling along the river’s paths—from the mountains to the sea—the poetic essence of this journey is built around water: water as a flowing path, a means of survival, and a symbol of time passing.
At the end of this journey, new landscapes and perspectives emerge, accompanied by longing and nostalgia. Reimagined images of a distant past—whether experienced or not—evoke memories of childhood, family, community, and homeland, reflecting idealised visions of a profound Brazil carried through collective memory.
This project began as research into the music of a lesser-known region, often overlooked in Brazilian cultural identity. This vast area, bordering Paraguay and Argentina through the Brazilian states of Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, and Mato Grosso do Sul, has a rich musical heritage. Despite its significant influence on Brazilian music history, it remains underappreciated as a representation of Brazilian identity.
Far from the stereotypes of carnival, samba, and the tropical image of Brazil (as sung by Jorge Ben Jor), this music and its poetry are connected to the serene landscapes of the pampas and riverbanks, incorporating words and expressions from Spanish and Guarani, and shaped by music genres such as guarania, chamamé, and milonga—forms equally Paraguayan, Argentinian, and Brazilian.
The repertoire was selected and arranged to reflect diverse genres, regions, and both contemporary and traditional composers, unified by the sounds of these lands through lyrics, musical forms, rhythms, and genres. The arrangements aim to re-signify and renew a repertoire often overlooked in Brazilian popular music.
This research project is presented on this website through five videos of selected songs, each accompanied by explanations of its music genre, composer, and sheet music arranged by the trio. Eleven studio-recorded tracks are also available for free download. Physical copies were distributed to public schools and libraries, and are also available at concerts and workshops hosted by the trio.
This project was funded by the Government of Santa Catarina State, Brazil, and the Catarinense Culture Foundation through the 2014 Elisabete Anderle Cultural Incentive Award, earning first place in the music category among approximately 900 submissions.
Yrupa Purahéi - Songs from the Riverbanks is a project carried out by Purahéi Trio and
funded by the Government of State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, 'Edital Elisabete Anderle 2014/FCC Prêmio da Música Catarinense' - First place winner.
Purahéi Trio
Romy Martínez: original concept, voice, Guarani versions and translations (Paraguay)
Chungo Roy: piano and arrangements (Argentina)
Maiara Moraes: flute and alto flute - in G (Brasil)
Artistic direction: Purahéi Trio
Executive production: Purahéi Trio and Marcos Moraes
Photography: José de Holanda, Elga Moraes, Marina Casagrande
Web and album design: Maisa Felippe
Watercolour illustrations: Fabio Dudas
Guarani versions revision: Gilberto Santacruz
Texts and research on the selected songs: Romy Martinez, Prof. Dr Evandro Higa (ethnomusicologist), Prof. Dr. Allan de Paula Oliveira (historian/anthropologist), Prof. Ms. Guilherme Howes (sociologist), Cinthya Dávila (journalists) and Maiara Moraes
Videos shouted at 'Instituto Casa Nobre' by Novelo Filmes. Lucas de Barros and Marco Martins
Special thanks to Luiz Felipe Nobre, Guarda do Embau, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Costume design: Alice Assal
Album recording and mixing: Estúdio Arsis. Adonias Junior, Daniel Tapia Rodrigo Panasolo, São Paulo.
Mastering: Carlos Laurenz em Carlos Laurenz Mastering. Buenos Aires, Argentina
*Except “Estrangeiro”Bonûs Track recorded by Gabriel Vieira, Estúdio Móvel Araruna – December 2015 at 'Instituto Casa Nobre' and piano in "La cautiva" and "Tres hermanos" recorded at Estudio Doctor F by Agustín Silverleib
Videos (album release teaser): José de Holanda and Marina Casagrande at Estúdio Arsis, São Paulo
Social media management: Renan Mittermayer
Special guests:
Lea Freire: bass and double bass flute
Carlinhos Antunes: viola caipira
A corda em si: Fernanda Rosa and Mateus Costa, voice and double bass
Alessandro 'Bebê' Kramer: Accordion