MUSIC COMPOSITIONS
Johnathan Batista Dos Santos' music spans from jazz to contemporary classical, deeply influenced by the aesthetics of the oppressed. He seeks a dialectical balance between high and low art forms, capturing social class struggles and resonating with contemporary listeners. Santos's compositions aim to be accessible, inviting audience engagement while provoking thought and reflection.
EARTH JUSTICE
In 2021, the Latin America Solidarity Centre (LASC) commissioned Johnathan Batista dos Santos to create music reflecting Ecosystem Restoration for their annual festival. The festival's theme was "Defending The Territory, Defending the Earth," emphasising the urgent need to protect our planet and its diverse ecosystems.
The result was "Earth Justice," a video-extended play released as a protest piece against then-Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro, a far-right politician, was criticised for his involvement in forest burning, illegal wood trafficking, and urban militia crimes.
Featuring a guest performance by multimedia artist Thais Muniz, the piece begins with a contextualising text. The music sonifies data on Amazon deforestation during Bolsonaro's years in power. Tracks like "Earth Justice," "Capitalism is The Virus," and "Polyculture" address themes from the COVID-19 era, highlighting how the most vulnerable in society were disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
CATA
“Clouds whirl about. Occasionally they part to allow a glimpse of swinging couples. As they gradually evaporate, one can discern a street party in the middle of tiny houses filled with a crowd of dancers in motion. The Stage gradually brightens. The glow of the firepit breaks out fortissimo— Somewhere in the middle of a continental country in the mid-twenty century.”
“Cata” explores a folk inspired dance emerging from a cloud of soft, airy sounds. The main character of the piece is rhythmic structure of the Brazilian dance “Baião”, this rhythm is found in cultures all over the word and developed independently in diverse folk traditions.
ELÁSTICO
"ELÁSTICO" (or Rubber Band Music for String Quartet) is a look into the music's intrinsic elasticity, mirroring the ceaseless dance of societal forces in tension and release. This composition is a meditation on music's profound ability to stretch and compress, embodying the eternal dialectic of emancipation of humanity and regressive forces that shape our world.
CABAÇA
CABAÇA is a guitar solo piece created by Johnathan Batista dos Santos in collaboration with guitarist Darren Loughran during their Master's in Composition and Performance. The current recording is a workshop version produced during their time at university, with a commercially viable recording planned for release in 2024.
"Cabaça," Portuguese for "gourds," refers to the hollow, dried-out shells of Lagenaria or Cucurbita plants, traditionally used to make the berimbau, a percussion instrument integral to Capoeira in Brazil.
Capoeira's history traces back to the era of slavery in Brazil, where African-Brazilian enslaved people developed it as a form of self-defence and resistance against their oppressors. Disguised as dance, it allowed them to practice martial arts without arousing suspicion. Inspired by the berimbau sounds and Capoeira's art, this piece reflects the dance-fight's dynamic, rhythmic, and improvisatory nature. Capoeira's rhythms guide the players, transitioning from slow and fluid to fast and precise movements. Experienced players execute complex, acrobatic manoeuvres, emphasising fluidity over static postures, often incorporating inverted kicks and hands-on-the-ground techniques.
The process of writing the piece was documented by the composer and performer in this blog, which serves as a record of the collaborative process and interaction between composer Johnathan Santos and classical guitar player Darren Loughran.
BAIACU
"Baiacu," composed for Accordion, Bass Clarinet, and Vibraphone during the Irish Composition Summer School organized by the Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland, draws inspiration from the Baiacu fish, also known as Fugu. This fish contains a potentially fatal poison called tetrodotoxin and has a remarkable ability to swell its body when threatened, symbolizing the resilience and strength of the working class. Just as the Baiacu's defence mechanism makes it a powerful force against predators, the working people have the potential to rise against oppression. The piece also embodies a fun, jovial spirit, reflecting the Baiacu's amusing defence mechanism. Despite their struggles, the proletariat retains their good humour and artistic spirit.
Please get in touch with me if you want to perform any of my work or gain access to my scores.