Explore Morna on Josplay Music The Harmonic structure of Morna is usually based on the circle of fifths. The progression typically starts in the tonic of a key. (The tonic is the first tone of a major or minor scale) then moves to the lower fifth which is the Subdominant, it returns back to the first then the fourth chord is the upper fifth which is the dominant. In Cape Verde they are called “Primeira, Segunda, Terceira '' which means first, second, third. The guitar is strummed in a way called the mãozada, a first note is struck marking the bass, and it is then followed by chords either in arpeggios, rhythmical form or a combination of both.
Morna is a slow dance music that is considered to be the national music of Cape Verde due to its strong association with Cape Verdean identity. Morna songs are traditionally about cruel fate, lost love, or blues carried by melancholic guitars and violins. Morna's vocals are typically quiet and sensitive, with the main vocalist delivering the words in a very expressive manner.
Originally mournful and melancholic, Eugénio Tavares, introduced romantic themes and sounds and introduced writing in creole to Morna. In the 1930s, Francisco Xaxier da Cruz, professionally known as B. Léza, was a composer and poet influenced by Brazillian guitarists growing up, B. Léza introduced the ‘Brazilian half-tone’ to Morna, changing the rhythmic structure of the genre.
The 1960s saw the introduction of electric instruments; drum kits replaced percussion instruments, the bass and electric guitars replaced the guitar (violão), and piano and amplifiers were introduced. Artists like Manuel de Novas began using Morna as a form of social protest and started performing it with bands on stage as opposed to being played to serenade at night or dawn. Despite Cape Verde’s huge diaspora population and presence, Morna did not become known internationally, outside Cape Verdean communities, until the 1990s thanks to the success of Cesária Évora. Based in Paris, Cesária Évora released her version of “Sodade”, a popular Morna composition, which became an instant hit in France. The success of “Sodade” made Cesária Évora's an international star and put the spotlight on the genre.
Évora’s success marked the beginning of the modern Morna sound where singers and performers became more prominent and began incorporating musical genres like jazz and classical music into their styles. Some of the new artists championing the Morna genre include Mayra Andrade, Lura, Gabriela Mendes.
The band is usually small and consists of a guitar called violão that acts as a harmonic support, a cavaquinho that plays the chords rhythmically, a violin and a shaker. The violin plays in a rising and falling manner, the melody is accentuated on the first beat and the last half-beat of the bar, Morna songs can sometimes be without vocals, just instruments and most of the instruments are chordophones. Morna's vocals are typically quiet and sensitive, with the main vocalist delivering the words in a very expressive manner.
The themes include - love, departure, separation, reunion, longing, the ocean, and the motherland
It is uncertain on which Cape Veredean island Morna originated from in the 18th century. Also known as “música rainha” (“queen music”), Morna musical influence can be traced to an ancestral African rhythm called Lundum or Landú which was incorporated with choros (local plaintive songs performed on certain occasions). In the early 18th century, it was performed by women who were brought to the islands as slaves.
Morna music is distinguished by its heartfelt and emotive feel. Morna music is typically described as nostalgic and gloomy, reflecting Cape Verde's cultural influences as well as its history of colonization and servitude.
The traditional form of Morna usually starts with an introduction on a solo instrument, usually the guitar or violin which is generally also the melody as the refrain (Refrain can mean chorus, which means a part of the song that is repeated or recurring). The modern Morna began introducing drum kits, electric guitars and bass guitars from 196.