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The Villancicos de Negro in Manuscript 50 of the Biblioteca Geral da Universidade de Coimbra: A Case Study of Black Cultural Agency and Racial Representation in 17th-Century Portugal

Alves Simao, Joana Luis
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1483636386001958

Abstract Details

2017, Master of Music (MM), Bowling Green State University, Music History.
The development of Renaissance Portugal was greatly impacted by the transatlantic slave trade during the colonial period, as the country emerged as a major European power not only financially but also culturally. It is well known that Portuguese musical practices during this period, especially with regard to sacred polyphony, resembled those of other European cultures, however, there is more to this narrative. Knowing that the transatlantic slave trade was one of the major consequences of colonialism, and that by the 16th-century Black Africans represented more than 10% of the population in Lisbon and other cities in Portugal makes it crucial to consider Black Africans as major agents of cultural transfer. As the groundbreaking work of historians Kate Lowe, A. C. de C. M. Saunders and Jose Tinhorão demonstrates, the presence of Africans had a significant impact on Portuguese social and cultural life. Contemporary written and visual sources (such as paintings) demonstrate that, for instance, music from sub-Saharan Africa was performed in a variety of situations and on different levels of society: in the squares and taverns of early modern Lisbon, in religious processions around the country, and at the Portuguese court. The primary aim of this thesis is to explore the musical activities of Africans in early modern Portugal, emphasizing their influence towards the practice of the villancico. To contextualize the question of how Black Africans have influenced the practice of music in Portugal, I discuss the social, cultural and legal role of Black Africans within the society. Through a thorough stylistic and formal comparison of the Villancicos de Negro to other villancicos of the same collection that represent other ethnic groups or an unspecified type, I will seek to demonstrate that the Villancicos de Negro share a common stylistic and formal profile. Moreover, I will examine the specific issue of representation of race, focusing on what the works can potentially tell us about how Black Africans were perceived within Portuguese society and how they were represented in the liturgical context of Christmas celebrations, during which these villancicos were frequently performed. I propose that the African slaves brought to Portugal during the fifteenth century not only had a major role in development of the society by contributing and participating in the practice of music in Portugal, but also influenced the practice of Portuguese villancicos.
Arne Spohr (Advisor)
Sidra Lawrence (Committee Member)
Mary Natvig (Committee Member)
79 p.
Music
Portugal; Portuguese music; Slave; Slave Trade; Black Africans; Agency; Linguistic; Vilancicos; Vilancico de Negro; Fala de Negro; Santa Cruz de Coimbra

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Alves Simao, J. L. (2017). The Villancicos de Negro in Manuscript 50 of the Biblioteca Geral da Universidade de Coimbra: A Case Study of Black Cultural Agency and Racial Representation in 17th-Century Portugal [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1483636386001958

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Alves Simao, Joana Luis. The Villancicos de Negro in Manuscript 50 of the Biblioteca Geral da Universidade de Coimbra: A Case Study of Black Cultural Agency and Racial Representation in 17th-Century Portugal . 2017. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1483636386001958.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Alves Simao, Joana Luis. "The Villancicos de Negro in Manuscript 50 of the Biblioteca Geral da Universidade de Coimbra: A Case Study of Black Cultural Agency and Racial Representation in 17th-Century Portugal ." Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1483636386001958

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.