"Bury Me On Wednesday": Resistance and Music on Ash Wednesday
The carnival bloco "Bury Me On Wednesday" (MENQ) is a symbol of resistance and love within the context of Rio's carnival. Founded in 2004, the bloco extends the celebrations of revelry to Ash Wednesday, keeping musical traditions and community engagement alive.
History and Origin
MENQ arose from the desire of a group of music students from UNIRIO to prolong the Carnival festivities. The bloco's name, a joke about a friend who wanted to be buried on Wednesday, reflects the spirit of resistance and freedom that permeates the group.
Musical Identity and Repertoire
The performances of "Bury Me On Wednesday" are acoustic, focusing on traditional rhythms and styles such as marchinhas, maracatus, ijexás, sambas and frevos. The band is composed of wind and percussion instruments, including trombones, trumpets, flutes, saxophones, tubas, snare drums, surdos, alfaias, agogôs and xequerês. The bloco's repertoire rescues the tradition of the old carnival cordões from the beginning of the 20th century.
Special Features
"Bury Me On Wednesday" stands out for its proposal to extend Carnival, valuing music and community. The bloco is seen as a counterpoint to the commercialization of the party, maintaining the playful and popular essence of Carnival.
Parade Information
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro
