The Evolution of Portuguese and Brazilian Art Song: A Survey from Origins to Nationalism

The origin of Portuguese art song is steeped in a combination of traditions present throughout Western Europe in Medieval times and in unique geographical circumstances. The Catholic Church presided over musical affairs for several centuries, restricting the output of secular song. The Great Earthquake of 1755 in Lisbon destroyed most archived musical scores, leaving scholars unsure of whether an art song tradition existed during the Renaissance and Baroque eras. In the Classical era, a steady stream of both sacred and secular songs emerged and continued to proliferate throughout the Romantic period, when the influence of Italy, Germany, and France was at its height. Finally, Portugal experienced a dictatorship under Anto?nio Salazar followed by a revolution in the twentieth century. Even while writing in their distinct, individual styles, contemporary composers have drawn upon Portuguese folk traditions to create a unified, nationalistic idiom that reflect the complex history of Portugal