Dez estudos vocalizados de Carmen Vasconcellos: contexto histórico, análise, edição e performance

Abstract

This study presents the research made around the piece Ten Vocalized Studies, by composer Carmen Sylvia Vieira de Vasconcellos (1918-2001). The research was developed under four main pillars: critical analysis of the composer’s biography, considering the historic and social context of the society she lived in; a performance proposal supported by Intermediality and Semiotics concepts; the analysis of the Studies and the edition of the piece, which is still handwritten. Despite the title of the piece, we understand that the Studies extrapolate their study function and work also as artistic vocalizations, which means that they can be included in concerts to be presented to an audience. We observe that the program of the recitals promoted by theaters and concert halls the predominance of European music in comparison to the presence of Brazilian compositions. Considering the pieces that were played, we could see that the majority of them were from male composers. This may reflect the gender segregation of work present in the country up to the middle of the 20th century, when women were supposed to take care of household tasks and the only jobs they were allowed to have was related to teaching. This social normative was reflected on the professional recognition women received. Although Carmen Vasconcellos worked as a composer, pianist, conductor, singer and professor, her recognition as a teacher was much bigger than her other activities, a fact that reflected on her compositions. Thus, this dissertation’s main goal is to value the work of composers from Minas Gerais, specially the works of a specific woman composer, whose artistic work is found handwritten and stored on the shelves of UFMG’s School of Music Library.