Recordando o Vale das Maçãs

Recordando o Vale das Maçãs were a Brazilian symphonic-folk band that released the 1977 GTA album As Crianças da Nova Floresta, followed by the 1982 single “Sorriso de verão.” In 1993, the band released As Crianças da Nova Floresta II, a sequel to its predecessor with identical cover art.

Members: Fernando Pacheco (acoustic guitar, electric guitar), Fernando Motta (acoustic guitar, percussion), Domingos Marioti (flute, [digital] horn), Luiz Aranha (violin), Moacir Amaral (flute), Eliseu de Oliveira [aka Lee] (keyboards), Ronaldo de Mesquita [aka Gui] (bass), Milton Bernardes (drums), Lourenço Gotti (drums), Nelio Porto (keyboards), Gustavo Bíscaro (drums, percussion), Guilherme Cordeiro (bass)

Background

Recordando o Vale das Maçãs (Remembering the Apple Valley) originated in Santos, São Paulo, in 1973, when guitarist Fernando Pacheco began weekly instrumental sessions with acoustic guitarist Fernando Motta and flautist Domingos Mariotti. Pacheco and Motta were cousins who learned music together as teenagers and played school events with Os Lobos and End Up Six. Pacheco studied guitar with Antônio Manzione in Santos. Mariotti lyricized “Besteira,” a 1973 Pacheco theme.

In 1974, the trio moved to a rural property in Ouro Fino, Minas Gerais, and developed a concert repertoire. They adopted the apple-themed name for their first show on August 3 at Clube Montanhês. Mariotti withdrew when Pacheco and Motta returned to Santos and formed a second lineup with bassist João Paulo and singer-guitarist Jair Freitas, who debuted with the band at Clube XV.

In 1975, Recordando added keyboardist-singer Eliseu de Oliveira Filho, known as Lee Eliseu, who introduced his song “Rancho, filhos e mulher.” A São Paulo native, Eliseu traveled to Santos for weekend rehearsals. The group also recruited violinist Luiz Aranha, flautist Moacir Amaral, bassist Ronaldo Mesquita, and drummer Milton Bernardes.

Eliseu sought bookings and took a demo tape to Gravações Tupi Associadas (GTA) after a tip from a TV Tupi actor. GTA artistic director Moacir Machado signed the group. In July 1977, the seven-member lineup entered singer Eduardo Araújo’s Estúdio Templo to begin As Crianças da Nova Floresta.

Discography:

As Crianças da Nova Floresta (1977)
“Sorriso de verão” / “Flores na estrada” (1982)
As Crianças da Nova Floresta II (1993)

Sources

Fernando Pacheco, “Entrevista Exclusiva,” April 22, 2009. Pacheco identifies his guitar teacher, the cousins’ early groups, Mariotti’s reason for leaving, and Eliseu’s approach to GTA. (baudomairon.blogspot.com)
Fernando Pacheco, “Entrevista Fernando Pacheco,” October 2018. Pacheco dates the weekly sessions, the move to Ouro Fino, and the first public show. (furia2112.blogspot.com)
Victor Henrique de Resende, Rock brasileiro e romantismo contracultural no Brasil, 2018, pp. 88–91. The thesis includes interviews with Pacheco and Eliseu and reproduces a 1978 Música account of the GTA contact and July 1977 studio entry. (repositorio.ufmg.br)
Lucas Krempel, “‘As Crianças da Nova Floresta’, o disco de R$ 550,” November 27, 2017. Reports the return to Santos and the second show at Clube XV. (Blog n’Roll)