Tico Tico

José Gomes Abreu

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General Info

Year: 1917 / 1992
Duration: c. 2:45
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: De Haske
Cost: Score and Parts - $162.50

Instrumentation

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Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Tico-Tico no Fubá is the renowned Brazilian choro music piece composed by Zequinha de Abreu (né José Gomes de Abreu) in 1917. Its original title was Tico-Tico no Farelo, but since Brazilian guitarist Américo Jacomino Canhoto (1889–1928) had a work with the same title, Abreu's work was given its present name in 1931.

Choro (literally translated meaning lament) is also popularly known as chorinho in the affectionate diminutive form of Brazilian Portuguese. "Fubá" is a type of maize flour, and "tico-tico" is the name of a bird, the rufous-collared sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis). Hence, "tico-tico no fubá" means "sparrow in the cornmeal".

Tico-Tico no Fubá was recorded and made popular internationally by Carmen Miranda (who performed it onscreen in Copacabana (1947)) and Ray Conniff. It was also heard in the 1942 Disney animated film Saludos Amigos.

- Program Note by Wikipedia

This concert band arrangement pays homage to the original choro ensemble by using the woodwinds for much of the melody. The brass and percussion often provide the rhythm and groove of the piece. The arrangement was written by Japanese composer Naohiro Iwai. Most of Iwai’s career was spent as a jazz and pop performer and composer. He has made an effort to bring these styles to groups like wind ensembles, brass ensembles, and orchestras that more often play in the Classical style.

- Program Note from United States Marine Band concert program, 22 August 2019

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
Audio CD: Rekkenze Brass - 2005

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

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United States Marine Band (Washington, D.C.) (Ryan J. Nowlin, conductor) - 29 July 2021
Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge) Symphonic Band (Kelvin Jones, conductor) - 22 April 2021
Luther Burbank High School (San Antonio, Tx.) Band (Hector Trevino, conductor) - 12 February 2021 (2021 TMEA Conference, San Antonio) (Virtual)
Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge) Symphonic Band (Kelvin Jones, conductor) - 15 December 2020
United States Marine Band (Washington, D.C.) (Ryan Nowlin, conductor) - 22 August 2019
University of South Florida (Tampa) Wind Ensemble (Marc Sosnowchik, conductor) – 24 February 2019
Roberts Wesleyan College (Chili, N.Y.) Wind Ensemble (Paul Shewan, conductor) – 14 February 2019
Temple University (Philadelphia, Penn.) Symphonic Band (Matthew Brunner, conductor) – 29 April 2018
Henry (Tx.) Middle School Band (Robert Herrings, conductor) - 16 February 2018 (2018 TMEA Conference, San Antonio)
Dobyns-Bennett High School (Kingsport, Tenn.) Wind Symphony (Lafe Cook, conductor) - 8 March 2017 (82nd Annual ABA National Convention)
Peninsula Symphonic Band (Palo Alto, Calif.) (Ted Henderson, conductor) - 24 May 2015
James Logan High School (Union City, Calif.) Wind Symphony (Adam R. Wilke, conductor) - 20 February 2015 (2015 CMEC Conference, Fresno)
Windstars Ensemble (Toru Miura, conductor) - December 2014 (Wind Band Association of Singapore Youth Band Festival 2014)
L'Orchestra di fiati dell'Alta Umbria - 16 March 2014

Works for Winds by This Composer

La Wummba (arr. Andraschek) (2014)
Tico Tico (arr. Iwai) (1917/1992)
Tico Tico (arr. Klarfeld) (1917/2016)
Tico Tico (arr. Marlatt) (1917/2001)
Tico-Tico no Fubá (arr. Shaw) (1917/2019)

Resources

Abreu, Z.; Iwai, N. (]199-?]. Tico Tico [score]. De Haske: Heerenveen, Holland
Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. "José Gomes Zequinha Abreu." Accessed 19 February 2015
Condensed perusal score
Tico Tico no Fubá, Wikipedia