“Potential” Complexities in the Interpretations of 'Aguas de Março' by Antônio Carlos Jobim

Abstract

The present contribution is dedicated to the analysis of one of the most famous examples of the bossa nova genre: Aguas de Março by Antônio Carlos Jobim. Firstly, the historical context in which the song came into being will be defined, together with some reflections upon the versions taken into consideration here, and a description of the analytic tools used. An analysis will then be put forward with the aim of demonstrating that Aguas de Março is characterized by the use of a very small number of elements, continuously combined and reiterated in a musical discourse that is poor or rudimental only in appearance. By means of a close examination of the micro-elaborations of the musical material, our intention is to disclose certain complexities that lie below the relative simplicity of the surface level. Such complexities – already present in the original version, albeit in an embryonic state – are to be held as “potential”, insofar as they are completely brought to light only in later interpretations.