DON’T LET ME DOWN

THE ARRANGEMENT AND MUSIC PRODUCTION OF A BEATLES SONG REINTERPRETATION BY BLOCO DO SARGENTO PIMENTA

Abstract

This article examines the arrangement and musical production of Don’t Let Me Down (The Beatles, 1969), as reinterpreted by Bloco do Sargento Pimenta, a Rio de Janeiro–based collective that, since 2010, has revisited the Beatles’ repertoire in dialogue with Brazilian musical practices. The study addresses the ensemble’s internal organization, shaped by multiple musical leaderships and the division between percussion and harmonic/melodic sections, and its creative procedures that combine fidelity to the originals with rhythmic and harmonic experimentation. The case study reveals that the reinterpretation of Don’t Let Me Down was initially conceived as a medley with Alceu Valença’s Anunciação, but was ultimately recorded in 2019 as an independent version due to copyright constraints and distinct production goals. The collaboration with musician and producer Pedro Tie introduced electronic resources (synthesizers, samples, and beats), expanding the group’s sonic palette. The arrangement integrates elements of ijexá, reggaeton, and funk, establishing contrasts between acoustic and electronic layers, with emphasis on textural clarity achieved during mixing. It is argued that this reinterpretation exemplifies the ensemble’s effort to closer ties between cultures, whereby the Beatles’ legacy is reframed through Afro-Latin rhythms, carnival aesthetics, and collective experimentation, resulting in a synthesis that articulates tradition and contemporaneity.