Music of the Americas: Voice, Guitar, Percussion

Wednesday, December 3, 10 am

Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and researcher of Brazilian popular culture Kátya Teixeira is back on En Casa with "Companheiro me ajude," a tonta belonging to the repertoire of cirandas e fandangos from the Brazilian South-Eastern coast. It was transmitted by teacher Chico from Ubatuba and the lyrics were adapted by Kátya, who sings and plays a “viola de cabaça,” a traditional 12-string guitar. André Venegas joins her again on body percussion.

Thursday, December 4, 10 am

Lua Balagué is an Argentine composer, arranger, teacher, and multi-instrumentalist who began her solo career in 2018, having performed in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Slovenia, and Italy. She has released two singles, "Ceder" (2019) and "Luminoso Error" (2022) and is about to release her debut album, Jardines de lo posible, which will include original arrangements and songs. She has also collaborated on the recording of albums by other Argentinian composers. 

From Buenos Aires, she sent us a video of her original composition "Gatito Viajero." The song is a gato norteño, a traditional folk dance from Argentina, a style often performed at musical gatherings. The song speaks of friendship, music, and travel.

Friday, December 5, 10 am

Marcelo Taynara is a singer, composer, percussionist, and guitarist from the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. Over a 30-year career, he has released eight CDs, two DVDs, and shared the stage with artists including Belchior, Lenine, Maria Gadú, 14 Bis, and Geraldo Azevedo, among others. His music pulsates between tradition and invention, between solo and collective. His new album, Batuqueiro,  delves into the artist's ancestry and features original compositions created in collaboration with João Arruda and Adriano Rosa, Kátya Teixeira, Marco Tulio Oliveira Reis, Osni Ribeiro, and Marco Cremasco.

From the city of Caldas, in the south of the state, he sent us this compilation that includes his original song "Seu José," flanked by traditional pieces from Brazil and Mozambique: "Canto de congada" and "Barritina". In the video, Marcelo sings and accompanies himself with a drum and shakers attached to both feet. 

The MetLife Foundation Music of the Americas concert series is made possible by the generous support of Presenting Sponsor MetLife Foundation.

The 2025–2026 series is also supported, in part, by the Howard Gilman Foundation, Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation, Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University.