"III. Brazileira" from Scaramouche

Brasileira, the lively third movement of Darius Milhaud’s Scaramouche, bursts with the vibrant rhythms and melodic colors of Brazilian street music. Drawing inspiration from the samba, Milhaud captures the carefree spirit and syncopated charm of South America with unmistakable French flair. The movement is full of rhythmic vitality, with dance-like pulses and sudden harmonic turns giving it a spontaneous, almost improvised character. Just as the name suggests, Brasileira conjures images of festive processions and sunlit coastal towns. In our arrangement, the addition of marimba and vibraphone highlights the movement’s percussive roots, enhancing its bright energy while offering a fresh timbral twist.