Brigada Victor Jara

An eight-piece Portuguese ensemble known as Brigada Victor Jara keeps the nation’s traditional music alive while reshaping it for contemporary ears. Early performances centered on acoustic folk instruments, yet the group gradually added synthesizer and electronic keyboards to its palette. Taking its name from the slain Chilean activist Victor Jara, the band was assembled in 1975 by a circle of young players eager to reconnect with their heritage. Over an extended period it partnered closely with the noted ethnomusicologist Michel Giaccomenti (1929–1990). Theatrical troupes, dance companies, and GEFAC (Grupo Ethnografica De Folklore De La Academia De Coimbra) have all joined Brigada Victor Jara on various projects. In 1989 the musicians teamed with choreographer Joao Cuatro to create the stage work “Mondo Formose.” A concert at Lisbon’s Luiz Theater in December 1995 marked the ensemble’s twentieth anniversary.