Brazilian piano through the ages: A look at the development in style through the context of social issues and historical influences

Author

Rebecca Lin Chen, James Madison University

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Date of Graduation

Spring 2012

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Music (BM)

Department

School of Music

Advisor(s)

Paulo Steinberg

Andrew Connell

Bob Hallahan

Abstract

This project seeks to explore the development of piano music in Brazil, through the historical and social context of five different composers: Chiquinha Gonzaga, Ernesto Nazareth, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Francisco Mignone, and Edmundo Villani-Côrtes. By studying representative pieces of these composers, main influences are revealed, such as avoidance of or defying social stigmas, the impact of choro music, the influence of folklore and folk tunes, and the European and Romantic piano tradition. Furthermore, through the work of a composer still living today, we can trace these historical aspects into the modern day.

Recommended Citation

Chen, Rebecca Lin, "Brazilian piano through the ages: A look at the development in style through the context of social issues and historical influences" (2012). Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019. 400.
https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/honors201019/400