UC Davis

in this paper, the lyrics of Capoeira songs are used as a reliable source of information about the most important aspects of this art-form: music, ritual, play, history, phi- losophy and the idiosyncrasy of its practitioners. This paper elucidates the musical universe of Capoeira through a systematic analysis of the lyrics of a selected group of songs. The songs are classified using two criteria and both criteria are analyzed. Furthermore, certain aesthetic elements of the music are studied to complement the discussion of the lyrics.