Di Freitas

Francisco Ferreira de Freitas Filho, popular known as Di Freitas, was born in
Fortaleza, Ceará (Brazilian state), where he studied cello and classical guitar in Sesi, in the string musician formation centre. With his erudite formation, he took part of many music festivals with renowned teachers in Fortaleza, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. He played for many years in professional orchestras such as Filarmônica de Goiás, and, in Fortaleza, he worked with Syntagma, a group that relates ancient music to nordestina (from the north-east of the country) music. For 7 years he has been developing a work of musical experimentation with alternative materials, in Juazeiro, Ceará, initiated with APAE students, an institute that works with children with mental problems. Nowadays he is the music coordinator of SESC Rebeck Orchestra. In 2007, he released together with the lyric Italian singer Francesca Della Monica, the CD,"Ultraexistir"

Read below an adaptation of the article written by Danilo Santos de Miranda, the regional director of SESC São Paulo, about Di Freitas' new album "O Alumioso" (The Luminous):

"Waving sounds that seemed to be out of the senses, in an atmosphere of fascinating thoughts, in a shining way"

That's the way Di Freitas makes his communion, through this instrument full of history, that carries in its sonority its own pain: the rebec. The musician and artisan, who was born in Fortaleza, went to Cariri in a track of learning that made from the lack of money a possibility of creating an erudite music that came from popular roots of the country. Making his own instruments and spreading their tradition, he taught some boys not just how to make rebecs but also the pleasure of playing them. He continued his teaching track as a Music Coordinator for SESC Rebec Orchestra in Juazeiro do Norte.

The essence of his music reflects a diversity of influences that, in an unique way, allies the Iberian romancer to flamenco, Cuban and Indian music in an infinite collection of images that reminds us the armorials involved by the drums, strings, brass and the singing.

SESC São Paulo believes that music must be a means of social inclusion when it turns itself into an educative experience that excites the desire of knowledge. This way, sensibility and diversity make the criterion that direct the action of SESC recording label to present such a precious work as this "O alumioso" by Di Freitas, that conunts on the participation of musicians such as Lincoln Antonio, Juliana amaral, Éder "O Rocha", Filpo Ribeiro and Ari Colares making this will come true. I wish Di Freitas and his rebec carries on his work, approaching our backlands more and more.

Danilo Santos de Miranda, (SESC São Paulo Regional Director)

Read below an adaptation of the article written by Antonio Madureira about Di Freitas:

"I met Di Freitas in 2005 when I produced with Quarteto Romançal the event Sonora Brazil for SESC Music National Circuit. It happened in Juazeiro do Norte, Priest Cícero's land, that I first met this great artist, Francisco. I have no doubt it was a memorable meeting. At that occasion we talked for a long time about music, researches and dreams. Di Freitas told me about his activities in the pedagogical area and that he developed an original factory of manufactured instruments.

The description of his work together with the APAE students and the creation of the Rebec Orchestras touched me a lot. Soon after our concert I went to visit him to see with my own eyes his art of creating and recreating musical instruments. Working manually with recycling and alternative materials, he acted coherently with the social- economical reality of his field of action.

Now, I have the opportunity of knowing him as a musician and composer. His album is a collection of nordestinas (from the north-east of the country) sonorities. The repertory follows old routes taking us back to their origins. His musicians arches, built by himself, remake bridges, reconnecting us to our past.
The tones of the rebec and marimbau (a mix of marimba and berimbau) bring the sound of a mourish past back, a beautiful moment that reviews the romantic Iberian tradition. The pumping of the afro blood answers the beats from the maracatu nation and the Cariri tradition is present on the flutes and pífanos.

SESC recording label has been selecting, with wisdom, precious works of contemporary musical production creating a phonographic catalogue of national
reference. Today the joy and emotion from that first meeting in Ceará are renewed with this work, on which Di Freitas shows his strong musicality, showing a proper and sonorous musical menu of a Brazilian musician.

Antonio Madureira

Videos

Variações sobre "Juazeiro", de Luiz Gonzaga

Apressentação no Teatro Patativa do Assaré (Juazeiro do Norte - CE) com a cantora italiana Francesca Della Monica.