Um estudo etnomusicológico do congado de Nossa Senhora do Rosário do Distrito do Rio das Mortes, São João del-Rey, MG

Abstract

The sonority produced in the devotion feasts to Our Lady of the Nossa Senhora do Rosario are composed of music and faith, performed by the members of one same community of brothers who sing and play, recreating and re-elaborating their myths since times of captivity. This research sought to investigate the sound-musical aspects produced by the so called Congado of Our Nossa Senhora do Rosário from Rio das Mortes, a district of São João del- Rei, and how these relate to the meanings and behaviors that surround them. Through an ethnographic study combined with a historical contextualization, I aimed at the understanding of their music it was sought the comprehension of their music and of the main symbolic representations involved in the activity. The field work, added to the interviews, has demonstrated that the way the group experiences the congado shows many similarities in relation to other congados from Minas Gerais relatively to the main elements of tradition. I highlight in this ethnography the particularities involving specific meanings built by the group as they dont have more expressive contacts to other congados and participation in other religious feasts.