Carroll Quigley stated in the Evolution of Civilizations that material artifacts cross borders between civilizations more easily than cultural ones. (Some time between Russian Tsar Peter the Great’s “Great Embassy” to the West and the 1859 founding of the Russian Musical Society by the Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna, Western art music artifacts crossed the border into the Orthodox Civilization of Russia.) In the case of the J.S. Bach inheritance from the Protestant-Capitalist civilization to the Catholic and African civilization of Brazil, a set of cultural artifacts was successfully transplanted into Brazilian music largely by the influence of Heitor Villa-Lobos. In the instance of Chorando pra Pixinguinha, there is a Luthern chorale-type core with a Bach-like obligato.
Toquiño – Llorando por Pixinguiña
Cry for Pishinguinya
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| Meu velho amigo Chorão primeiro Tão Rio antigo Tão brasileiro Teu companheiro |
Mi viejo amigo Llora primero Tan río viejo Tan brasileño Tu compañera |
My old friend Primal Cry River so old So Brazilian Your companion |